Shawn Robinson wins as first true freshman QB to start for Patterson

It had its “wow” moments and “ouch” moments, but the first start of Shawn Robinson’s TCU career turned out to be a winner.

Now he might get a chance to lead the Horned Frogs to the Big 12 championship game.

The freshman from DeSoto started in place of sidelined Kenny Hill and ran for 84 yards and threw a touchdown pass to lead 11th-ranked TCU to a 27-3 victory against Texas Tech on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. He lost a fumble deep in his end but made no other mistakes with his team in the thick of the championship picture.

“Got a lot to learn, but I thought he did a nice job,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “Got to hold on to the football.”

Robinson became the first true freshman to start for TCU under Patterson as head coach. The last true freshman to do so at TCU was Casey Printers (also of DeSoto) on Sept. 25, 1999, in a 24-21 victory against Arkansas State when Patterson was in his second year as defensive coordinator.

“That’s always tough, not having your starting quarterback come to the game, but we knew Shawn has the ability to make plays at any time, just like Kenny does,” center Austin Schlottman said. “We knew he was going to come in and the game wouldn’t pressure him at all. He’s a good leader. Lot of room for improvement, but excited for what he did today. Excited to watch him keep improving.”

If Robinson has to play again next week, it will be against Baylor at home in a game that could send the Frogs to the Big 12 championship game at AT&T Stadium the following week. TCU (9-2, 6-2) would clinch a berth in the game by winning.

The Frogs were missing six starters at kickoff and were down a seventh when safety Ridwan Issahaku exited in the third quarter. They do not know who will be their quarterback next week, let alone if they’ll get a chance to play in Arlington.

But now they know much more about Robinson, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound heralded four-star recruit who enrolled early and won the backup job in spring practice.

They know he can handle first-and-25. The Frogs faced that situation in Texas Tech territory on their opening drive following a chop block. But on the next play, Robinson ran left and kept for 41 yards.

“I was like, ‘Wow, this is awesome,’ ” Schlottman said. “It’s cool to see him get in there and just have success right away. We knew he could run the ball, and he really did it well today.”

And that he can brush off a fumble. Robinson had the ball punched away on an option run in the third quarter with TCU leading only 10-3. But the defense, backed up at its 6, forced a field goal that missed, and Robinson led an 80-yard touchdown drive with his next chance. It ended on his 12-yard scoring pass to Jalen Reagor.

Robinson completed only six passes. He didn’t crack 100 yards. But he also wasn’t intercepted — though he came close with his first pass.

“It’s hard to go on the road and win even if you have a senior quarterback, let alone a guy the first time he’s started,” Patterson said.

It was a well-managed performance by him and co-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie, who had the job of balancing between playing it too safe and letting Texas Tech crowd the box against the run and being so aggressive that it would lead to mistakes in the passing game.

His teammates had prepped Robinson.

Linebacker Ty Summers said he told him, “Have fun, go play the game, because it is a game. Don’t overthink. Just go and be an athlete and make plays. And if you do mess up, we got your back.”

That proved true. The Frogs defenders gave up only a field goal, collected three sacks and an interception for six points of their own, and at one point stopped eight consecutive third downs. They have shut out the opponent in the second half of the last four games.

Robinson came through with the other part. He played the game, didn’t overthink, and made plays like the athlete he is.

“I already know what he’s capable of,” running back Kyle Hicks said. “I see him in practice every day. I was just telling him, go out here and do the same thing you’ve been doing all year. I know exactly what Shawn is capable of doing. He just had to go out there, let loose, have fun and play.”

Next week, the same advice holds.

First Quarter

TT—FG C.Hatfield 22, 6:08

Second Quarter

TCU—Turpin 2 run (Bunce kick), 14:54

TCU—FG Bunce 43, 1:14

Third Quarter

TCU—Reagor 12 pass from S.Robinson (Bunce kick), 1:55

Fourth Quarter

TCU—FG Bunce 25, 7:01

TCU—Gladney fumble recovery in endzone (Bunce kick), 4:39

A—51,278.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—TCU, S.Robinson 10-84, Hicks 22-81, Olonilua 3-29, Snell 2-13, Turpin 1-2, Reagor 1-1, Pryor 0-0, (Team) 3-(minus 6). Texas Tech, Stockton 21-124, Felton 5-25, Nisby 3-13, Shimonek 9-11, King 2-4, Carter 1-(minus 3).

PASSING—TCU, S.Robinson 6-17-0-85. Texas Tech, Shimonek 17-33-1-137, Carter 1-3-0-16.

RECEIVING—TCU, Reagor 2-24, D.White 2-13, Olonilua 1-28, Turpin 1-20. Texas Tech, Cantrell 7-55, Wesley 2-51, Stockton 2-13, Batson 2-10, Coutee 2-10, High 2-7, Vasher 1-7.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—Texas Tech, C.Hatfield 47, C.Hatfield 20.

This story was originally published November 18, 2017 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Shawn Robinson wins as first true freshman QB to start for Patterson."