University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
Safety in Experience
8/21/2019 9:26:00 AM | Football
DENTON – When you look out onto the field at Apogee Stadium at the Mean Green safeties on Aug. 31 during the season opener against Abilene Christian, you'll see a familiar pairing in seniors Khairi Muhammad and Taylor Robinson.
The duo has been together for four seasons, and they are entering the second consecutive year where they will be paired together in the starting lineup, which has created a great deal of familiarity between the two. That level of comfort in paramount at the position which is the last line of defense.
"It helps me sleep at night," Muhammad said. "I can know without even thinking about it that he's going to be in the spot on my right you know, on a certain play and I don't have to think about it, and it's just a comforting feeling. You can ask any safety, that's the best thing you can ask for, I think the main thing a defensive back should have is comfort - you should be comfortable back there in your position and that's what he [Robinson] gives me."
The tandem hit it off immediately when Muhammad arrived on campus ahead of the 2016 season. Robinson had already been in Denton for one year, redshirting in 2015. A friendship developed quickly off the field, as they spent time at each other's houses just hanging out, playing video games and getting the competition rolling in Madden, NBA 2K, Grand Theft Auto, etc. (there are conflicting reports on which of the two safeties is better at each respective game).
"Once you hang out with people all the time, you become brothers," Robinson said of his friendship with Muhammad. "You're going to have little fights and things like that, but at the end of the day, you're going to love your brother and do whatever is best for him and I feel like that's what we do for each other."
On the field the connection was evident as well, with Robinson showing Muhammad the ropes and helping him pick up the defense, while both served in reserve roles. They were always itching for their opportunity to get on the field and show what they could do and did that through healthy competition and the constant drive to make each other better. By doing so, they feel their goals are within reach.
"Our goals this year are to be more dominant and have more meticulous focus on our technique," Muhammad said. "I think we need to double the amount of plays we made last year – not for personal stats or anything, but to help the team win. We signed up for it and that's the weight we've got on our shoulders and now we're going to take on that challenge."
Over the past few years, Robinson and Muhammad have emerged as leaders, and the bond they share has extended to other members of the secondary, a group that lives by the Muhammad-created mantra: LSO, which stands for legendary stuff only.
"It's not just me and Kyrie," Robinson said. "It is all of the defensive backs. Anyone who has been here knows what LSO is all about. We used to be a group that everyone was picking on. We were a group that everyone was looking at and wondering when we were going to step up. This is something we fight for every day to prove that we're the guys who want to be here for this team. We feel we can carry this weight on our shoulders back there. I know where we were five years ago and where we are now."
The secondary was picked on by opponents and analysts alike during Robinson's first year on campus – a disastrous 1-11 campaign that saw the head coach relieved of his duties. In 2016, Muhammad's freshman year, it was a transition to defensive coordinator Troy Reffett's new system, which saw the defense surrender 32.6 points per game, a lot of which came through the air. It was still a struggle in 2017, as they allowed 35.0 points per game during a 9-4 season.
2018 saw the group make a massive jump, both as a defense overall (allowing 24.2 ppg), and certainly in the secondary. The Mean Green were in the top five nationally with 18 interceptions, six of which came from Muhammad (four) and Robinson (two).
Despite losing both starting corners – Nate Brooks and Kemon Hall, who are both fighting for roster spots with the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively, the familiarity on the back end between Muhammad and Robinson has created confidence. Along with what they feel is a very deep and talented group rising into those roles at corner, the pair are focused on chasing big dreams in their final collegiate seasons.
"All that is on our mind is a championship," Robinson said. "We don't care about any personal stats or none of that. Our goal and mindset every day is to go out there and get the defense better to do our part to win a championship. Every year we've been so close and it's time to break that barrier and beat down that wall to go get what we think is ours. I feel like Khairi and I are becoming those generals back there to keep everyone accountable. I know we do that for each other and I know we are going to do everything it takes to get there. I've got chills just thinking about it."
The duo has been together for four seasons, and they are entering the second consecutive year where they will be paired together in the starting lineup, which has created a great deal of familiarity between the two. That level of comfort in paramount at the position which is the last line of defense.
"It helps me sleep at night," Muhammad said. "I can know without even thinking about it that he's going to be in the spot on my right you know, on a certain play and I don't have to think about it, and it's just a comforting feeling. You can ask any safety, that's the best thing you can ask for, I think the main thing a defensive back should have is comfort - you should be comfortable back there in your position and that's what he [Robinson] gives me."
The tandem hit it off immediately when Muhammad arrived on campus ahead of the 2016 season. Robinson had already been in Denton for one year, redshirting in 2015. A friendship developed quickly off the field, as they spent time at each other's houses just hanging out, playing video games and getting the competition rolling in Madden, NBA 2K, Grand Theft Auto, etc. (there are conflicting reports on which of the two safeties is better at each respective game).
"Once you hang out with people all the time, you become brothers," Robinson said of his friendship with Muhammad. "You're going to have little fights and things like that, but at the end of the day, you're going to love your brother and do whatever is best for him and I feel like that's what we do for each other."
On the field the connection was evident as well, with Robinson showing Muhammad the ropes and helping him pick up the defense, while both served in reserve roles. They were always itching for their opportunity to get on the field and show what they could do and did that through healthy competition and the constant drive to make each other better. By doing so, they feel their goals are within reach.
"Our goals this year are to be more dominant and have more meticulous focus on our technique," Muhammad said. "I think we need to double the amount of plays we made last year – not for personal stats or anything, but to help the team win. We signed up for it and that's the weight we've got on our shoulders and now we're going to take on that challenge."
Over the past few years, Robinson and Muhammad have emerged as leaders, and the bond they share has extended to other members of the secondary, a group that lives by the Muhammad-created mantra: LSO, which stands for legendary stuff only.
"It's not just me and Kyrie," Robinson said. "It is all of the defensive backs. Anyone who has been here knows what LSO is all about. We used to be a group that everyone was picking on. We were a group that everyone was looking at and wondering when we were going to step up. This is something we fight for every day to prove that we're the guys who want to be here for this team. We feel we can carry this weight on our shoulders back there. I know where we were five years ago and where we are now."
The secondary was picked on by opponents and analysts alike during Robinson's first year on campus – a disastrous 1-11 campaign that saw the head coach relieved of his duties. In 2016, Muhammad's freshman year, it was a transition to defensive coordinator Troy Reffett's new system, which saw the defense surrender 32.6 points per game, a lot of which came through the air. It was still a struggle in 2017, as they allowed 35.0 points per game during a 9-4 season.
2018 saw the group make a massive jump, both as a defense overall (allowing 24.2 ppg), and certainly in the secondary. The Mean Green were in the top five nationally with 18 interceptions, six of which came from Muhammad (four) and Robinson (two).
Despite losing both starting corners – Nate Brooks and Kemon Hall, who are both fighting for roster spots with the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively, the familiarity on the back end between Muhammad and Robinson has created confidence. Along with what they feel is a very deep and talented group rising into those roles at corner, the pair are focused on chasing big dreams in their final collegiate seasons.
"All that is on our mind is a championship," Robinson said. "We don't care about any personal stats or none of that. Our goal and mindset every day is to go out there and get the defense better to do our part to win a championship. Every year we've been so close and it's time to break that barrier and beat down that wall to go get what we think is ours. I feel like Khairi and I are becoming those generals back there to keep everyone accountable. I know we do that for each other and I know we are going to do everything it takes to get there. I've got chills just thinking about it."
Players Mentioned
Saturday, April 18
Wednesday, April 15
Wednesday, April 08
Wednesday, April 01