IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 27
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c o v e r s t o r y : g e l e n r o b i n s o n
BY STACY CLARDIE
SClardie@GoldandBlack.com
S
hantelle Clay-Erving has too many examples.
How when son Gelen Robinson was a first-grad-
er, he'd fallen during recess and dislocated an elbow. The
teachers were frantic. Gelen, not so much. Mom arrived
and took him to the hospital to get it popped back into
place. He didn't shed a single tear.
Or how when Robinson tagged along with older broth-
er Glenn III's basketball teams and would get thrown a
uniform as a sixth man with a singular purpose: To be
physical and go get some quick fouls.
Or how, when Robinson was in high school, he made
a tackle during a scrimmage and the running back's
facemask ripped a gash in his arm. Robinson seemed
unbothered. She had to tell him, "Nobody wants to look
at that!" and drag him to the hospital. The cut required
staples.
Or how when Robinson got yanked from practice at
Lake Central last season without being told why. All he'd
been doing was lighting up the offensive line and getting
to the quarterback on every snap. He only found out later
it was because coaches needed the offense to actually
practice the play.
Or how, this year, when Robinson was asked to wres-
tle up a weight class — to heavyweight — he quickly
responded with a "sure." Even though it was against
Tom Campbell
Gelen Robinson is the only four-star recruit in Purdue's 2014
recruiting class, and with that come high expectations. But
Robinson says he can't wait to meet them.
Purdue's new Tough guy
Robinson ready to be impact player
