North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Holt, Robinson Named To NFC Pro Bowl Squad
12/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 22, 2005
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH -- One probably doesn't get enough attention for what he has done during an all-star NFL career. The other probably feels like he got too much publicity over the last year.
But Wednesday, former NC State wide receivers Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams and Koren Robinson of the Minnesota Vikings, both were rewarded for their outstanding performances this season with trips to the NFL's Pro Bowl on Feb. 12 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Holt was chosen as a starting receiver for the NFC squad, while Robinson made the NFC squad as a kick return specialist.
For Holt, the only receiver in NFL history to register at last 1,300 receiving yards in five consecutive seasons, this is his fifth selection to the NFL's annual all-star game. He's made the roster the last three seasons and continues to be one of the league's most productive - if not most flashy - pass catchers.
"My family still feels like I haven't (gotten) the recognition that I should be getting, but like I said I am here to do a job," Holt said. "My thing is to come in year in and year out and to be consistent and play the type of football I am capable of playing and help this organization win ball games and win championships.
"I think over the long haul, if I continue to stay consistent and continue to play and stay healthy I think in the long haul I will be able to get some recognition to catch up to what I have done."
This season, despite missing two games because of a knee injury and despite the Rams' instability at quarterback, Holt has 88 catches for 1,128 yards and eight touchdowns. He now has more than 600 career receptions and is only 172 yards from getting to 1,300 receiving yards again.
For more information about Holt's third consecutive selection to the Pro Bowl, click here.
Holt also made some other headlines in the St. Louis area in recent weeks, as he made his annual holiday donation to the Missouri Baptist Medical Center for its "Bear Essentials" program, which was founded 15 years ago as a children's cancer support group.
Holt donates $2,000 from the foundation he formed with younger brother Terrence for every touchdown he scores each season. On Dec. 14, Torry Holt presented a check for $20,000 to the hospital at its annual holiday party.
To read more about Big Game's big heart, here is a story from the St. Louis Rams' website. And here is Holt's personal website.
The Rams host the San Francisco 49ers Saturday at 1 p.m.
This is Robinson's first selection, and a huge reward for a player who was released in the spring by the Seattle Seahawks and was not signed by the Minnesota Vikings until September.
"I am really at a loss for words right now," Robinson said after hearing the news. "It really hasn't sunk in. I haven't been able to just sit and think about how much this really means to me. There is a lot of stuff going on in my head right now. I know that when I am able to get home today and just sit, relax and think about everything that has been happening for me this whole year, it's going to be emotional."
Robinson, the ninth selection in the 2001 NFL draft, went through a series of personal problems in the last year that led to his release by the Seahawks. He eventually entered an alcohol treatment facility at the University of South Carolina and, while there, received a phone call from Vikings head coach Mike Tice.
Tice had gotten a personal recommendation from Robinson's former teammate, Vikings' veteran cornerback Brian Williams, about the former All-ACC receiver, and offered him the opportunity to join the team.
Robinson didn't play much during the Vikings' 2-5 start, but he was an integral part of their six-game winning streak that recently ended with a loss to Pittsburgh. He is the only player in the NFL who has scored at least one touchdown this season rushing, receiving and on a kickoff return.
He made the team as a kick return specialist, even though this is his first season returning kicks. He is currently ranked third in the NFL with a 26.6-yard average and one 80-yard touchdown return.
"It's a funny feeling right now," Robinson said. "Looking back on everything I have been through, being in an alcohol-treatment facility, I thought I burned all my bridges as far as the organizations in the NFL were concerned.
"I didn't think I would get another chance."
Robinson talked at length Wednesday about his selection, and both an audio file and transcript are available here,near the middle of the page.
The NFL plays most of its Week 16 schedule on Saturday because of Christmas. However, Robinson and the Vikings will play at Baltimore Sunday at 8:30 p.m.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
FORMER NC STATE PLAYERS IN THE NFL
S Adrian Wilson
6-3, 230
Years at NC State: 1998-2000
Acquired: 3rd round draft pick, 2001
Experience: 4 years
Depth chart status: Starting safety
CB Lamont Reid
5-11, 203
Years at NC State: 2001-04.
Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent.
Experience: Rookie
6-6, 330
Years at NC State: 2000-02
Acquired: 7th-round draft pick, 2003
Experience: 2 years
Depth chart status: Second-team right guard
6-2, 208
Years at NC State: 1999-2002
Acquired: 5th round draft pick, 2003
Experience: 2
Depth chart status: Starting free safety
LB Pat Thomas
6-2, 237
Years at NC State: 2001-2004
Acquired: 6th-round draft pick, 2005
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Reserve outside linebacker
DB Dewayne Washington
5-11, 193
Years at NC State: 1990-93
Acquired: Signed as a free agent, July 29, 2005; drafted in the 1st round, 1994 draft, by Minnesota
Experience: 12 years
Depth chart status: Reserve right cornerback
6-0, 182
Years at NC State: 2001-04
Acquired: Signed as a free agent
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Reserve cornerback
WR Koren Robinson
6-1, 205
Years at NC State: 1999-2000
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Sept. 6.
Experience: 5 years
Depth chart status: Reserve wide receiver
5-11, 207
Years at NC State: 1998-2001
Acquired: Fourth-round pick of the Vikings in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Experience: 3 years
Depth chart status: Reserve cornerback
TE Sean Berton
6-4, 263
Acquired: Signed off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings in September, 2005
Experience: 3 years
Depth chart status: Reserve tight end
6-0, 207
Years at NC State: 2000-03
DB Andre Maddox
6-1, 206
Years at NC State: 2001-04
Acquired: Fifth-round pick of the Jets in the 2005 NFL Draft
Depth chart status: On injured reserve.
WR Alvis Whitted
6-0, 185
Years at NC State: 1994-97
Acquired: Signed by Oakland as a free agent in 2002; drafted by Jacksonville, 7th round, 1998.
Experience: 8 years
Depth chart status: Reserve wide receiver.
6-5, 228
Years at NC State: 2000-03
Acquired: 1st-round draft pick, 2003, traded from the New York Giants
Experience: 1 year
Depth chart status: Reserve quarterback
WR Torry Holt
6-0, 190
Years at NC State: 1995-98
Acquired: 1st round draft pick, 1999
Experience: 7 years
Depth chart status: Starting wide receiver
6-3, 301
Years at NC State: 2000-03
Acquired: 3rd round pick, 2004 draft
Experience: 1 year
Depth chart status: Starting right tackle
LB Corey Smith
6-3, 250
Years at NC State: 1998-2001
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Dec. 12, 2004, after two years with Tampa Bay; signed as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers in 2002.
Experience: 2 years
Depth chart status: Reserve outside linebacker
OT Chris Colmer
6-5, 310
Years at NC State: 1999-2004
Acquired: 3rd round draft pick, 2005
Experience: Rookie
Depth chart status: Backup right tackle
