The list of players who have switched positions at Tyrone and gone on to become premier players at their new spots is well documented, but impressive nonetheless.
Shayne Tate set the standard in 2007 when an injury to Johnny Franco days before the first game of the season moved him from wide receiver to running back overnight. Before you knew it, he had run for 1,500 yards and become an All-State back.
A year later, Larry Glace moved from the offensive line to the backfield and ran for 1,300 yards. In 2009, Levi Reihart switched from quarterback to running back and became the program’s only 1,000-yard passer and rusher.
Even Nick Patton, who remains the Eagles all-time leading receiver 15 years after setting the standard, began his career as a quarterback when he was a freshman.
Those were glamorous moves because they had players shifting into the spotlight.
This season, the Eagles may be asking senior Dylan Robinson to make one of those team-oriented position changes, but it won’t be so he can get more carries.
We’ve talked about him working in a couple of different roles, whether it’s the H-back, a third-down back, or working a little bit at tackle on the offensive line. We’ve bounced around some ideas because he is a bigger body, and he does have football strength.
Tyrone Coach Jason Jones
Robinson has been a fullback most of his career, and while Coach Jason Jones sees Robinson as a player whose physicality makes him a valuable blocker, Tyrone’s new offensive look doesn’t employ a fullback in the way John Franco’s pro-style offense did.
So it’s possible Robinson could play some on the offensive line, and Jones is hoping he will look at the move as an opportunity to stay on the field.
“We won’t use a traditional fullback. There’s an H-back in our package,” Jones said. “It will all depend on how Dylan presents himself to us when given offensive opportunities. We’ve talked about him working in a couple of different roles, whether it’s the H-back, a third-down back, or working a little bit at tackle on the offensive line. We’ve bounced around some ideas because he is a bigger body, and he does have football strength.”
As the season progressed in 2025, Robinson grew into a reliable receiver out of the backfield, pulling in 11 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, but he was never called upon to run the football.
If there’s one area where the Eagles have a glut of talent this season, it’s among the pass catchers and skill guys. Senior Caleb Whitby is firmly locked into the starting position as Tyrone’s No. 1 back, and sophomore Reed Starr appears to have established himself as a solid second option in the No. 2 role, so while Robinson is capable of contributing to that group, it’s not vital.
Where Tyrone needs to develop depth, on the other hand, is on the offensive line.
“It will all be about, where does he put himself in the best position possible when given those reps to help us on the field?” said Jones. “If he puts himself in a good position, what can we do as a staff to help continue building on his strength and his desire to play on that side of the ball.”
By that measure, Robinson could fill a number of roles offensively given the right situation.
Defensively, on the other hand, Robinson will play outside linebacker, remaining a steady presence in the Eagles’ second layer.
As a junior, he had 53 tackles, including 6 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had an interception.
“In our base 4-3, he’s looking to be our strong-side backer, and we think he’s going to fit there very well,” Jones said. “He’s been great through the first part of camp.”
That Robinson is an athlete Jones and his staff would like to have on the field is clear. For him to stay on the field playing both sides of the ball may require an old-school approach from the senior.
Were you to go back in time and ask those players of old about their position changes, most would have said they’d play anywhere just to be in the game. That was the culture when the Eagles were winning 10 games a season and competing for District titles on a yearly basis.
If Robinson can embrace that approach, he may not be around the spotlight as much as last season, but the team would benefit in the long run.
ORANGE AND BLACK 