UCF cornerback Josh Robinson experienced a moment he will never forget Friday when he heard his name called in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2012 NFL Draft. A native of Sunrise, Fla., Robinson was the 66th overall pick, tying for the sixth-highest Knight selected all-time in the draft.
This marks the first season in NFL history that UCF had the highest draft pick among all schools in the state of Florida.
UCF has now had at least one player taken in seven-consecutive NFL Drafts dating back to 2006. Since 1987 when Ted Wilson and Elgin Davis became the first Knights to be selected in school history, a total of 29 UCF student-athletes have heard their name called by NFL organizations.
UCF currently leads Conference USA with 10 NFL Draft picks since 2006, as East Carolina stands in second with eight (as of Robinson’s selection). Entering the 2012 draft, UCF and ECU were the only two C-USA schools which produced at least one draft pick every season from 2006-11.
The Black and Gold’s highest selection in the NFL Draft occurred in 1999 when Daunte Culpepper was nabbed in the first round with the 11th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings. Robinson joined Culpepper as the only two Knights who have been taken by the Vikings in school history. Meanwhile, Robinson will suit up alongside former UCF offensive lineman Patrick Brown (UCF from 2005-08) in Minnesota.
Recording the fastest 40-yard dash of any athlete to compete in the NFL Combine this spring, Robinson officially clocked in with a time of 4.33 seconds. The 5-foot-10, 199-pound Robinson also tied for first in the broad jump, second in the 3-cone drill, fourth in the 20-yard shuttle and 14th in the vertical jump (second among defensive backs).
A member of the C-USA All-Freshman Team and the All-C-USA Second Team in 2009, Robinson also was voted onto the league’s first team as a sophomore and as a junior. In 38-career games for the Knights, he amassed 176 tackles and ranked second in UCF history with 36 pass break-ups and fifth with 10 interceptions.
Football Knights in the NFL Draft
Player Pos. Team Year Round Pick