May 21, 2015
The death of former Temple football player Adrian Robinson has been ruled a suicide by hanging, a Philadelphia medical examiner’s office spokesperson told The Temple News.
The 25-year-old former defensive lineman was pronounced dead on May 16.
“Adrian Robinson was one of the greatest competitors I ever had the pleasure of coaching and I know he was an even better teammate. He will always be a part of me and will always be a part of this program.” - coach Matt Rhule.
From 2008-2011, Robinson appeared in all 50 games, and as a sophomore in 2009, he was named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year when he registered a school-record 13 sacks, the university’s athletic department said.
That same year, the Owls won nine games and were MAC Co-East champions en route to the EagleBank Bowl, the school's first bowl game in 30 years, according to the university.
During his final year as an Owl in 2011, Robinson accumulated 52 total tackles as the Owls went 9–4, including a 37–15 win over the University of Wyoming in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.
Adrian Robinson had 22.5 sacks at Temple. (Patrick Semansky/AP)
Robinson joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012 before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. He then had stops in Denver, San Diego, Washington and Tampa Bay before signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 2015.
This spring, Robinson was attending Temple University to complete his degree in communications before reporting to training camp with the Tiger-Cats at the end of May.
“The Temple football program lost a friend, a brother, and a
wonderful young man,” coach Matt Rhule said in a statement the
university issued the day after his death. “Adrian Robinson was one of the
greatest competitors I ever had the pleasure of coaching and I know he was an
even better teammate. He will always be a part of me and will always be a
part of this program.”
Robinson’s brother, Averee, is a junior defensive lineman with 20 career tackles and 2.5 sacks at Temple.