He would have been better off at A&M. He is a very good recruiter but maybe DC job was over his head.


Syracuse demotes Elijah Robinson from DC role to D-line coach
https://dailyorange.com/2025/12/syracuse-football-elijah-robinson-switching-positions/

Quote:

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Syracuse defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson will return to the program next year, but in a different job. The team announced Tuesday that Robinson is moving to a new role as SU's co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach, eliminating his former responsibilities as the defensive playcaller.

The Orange's primary issue over the last two seasons was their defense. They allowed nearly 30 points per game in 2024, including outputs of 41, 41 and 38 points, then surrendered 34.92 points per game this past year the lowlight being a 70-7 loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 22, SU's fourth-largest loss in program history.

SU ranked as the worst-scoring defense in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season under Robinson.

Syracuse struggled to sack the quarterback during Robinson's two years calling plays, too. SU finished the 2025 season 108th nationally in pass-rushing grade, per Pro Football Focus, and only tallied 20 sacks through 12 games.

Head coach Fran Brown said before the end of the regular season that Robinson would return in 2026. However, he didn't specify his role and has decided to make a change.

Brown notably called Robinson out on Oct. 4 following Syracuse's 31-18 road defeat to SMU. Brown said he didn't like Robinson's first half playcalling. The head coach had specific schemes and plays he wanted SU's defense to run, but Robinson didn't use them until Brown gave him a halftime pow-wow.
Brown also suggested Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon should have ran the ball more in a game that got out of hand quickly.

"I gotta go back and handle some stuff with our staff," Brown said following the SMU loss.
After firing special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield, and now in demoting Robinson to SU's defensive line coach, Brown will search for two new coordinators this offseason. With a talented, youthful core on the Orange's defense featuring Demetres Samuel Jr., Chris Peal and Antoine Deslauriers the position could attract some noteworthy candidates.

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Meh. He burned a bridge on his way out from here. Karma got that ass

I know ND scored 70 on Syracuse- but I am pretty sure the Irish had 3 touchdowns before Robinson's defense ever got on the field...

Fanatic15...Drs2B! said:

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I know ND scored 70 on Syracuse- but I am pretty sure the Irish had 3 touchdowns before Robinson's defense ever got on the field...

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Yes, Notre Dame took a 21-0 lead before even taking their first offensive snap.

Jbob04 said:

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Meh. He burned a bridge on his way out from here. Karma got that ass

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i don't remember that,, what happened?

They are 1-7 in the ACC and last place. Anyone on the staff that still has a job is probably fortunate to be blunt.

Don't remember, but how did he burn that bridge?

Jbob04 said:

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Meh. He burned a bridge on his way out from here. Karma got that ass

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This is not how I remember it. He coached his ass off for us after Jimbo got fired.

Players loved him, but Elko didn't think he was ready for a DC job. Clearly, he wasn't.

I don't think he burned any bridges. He coached a Bowl game and left. I believe he had already resigned and A&M made him coach after that so there was some controversy.

Generally a very popular coach and a great recruiter. He probably should have spent more years learning the job.

Recruiting current players and recruits to follow him to Syracuse once he learned he wasn't getting the dc job here.

Jbob04 said:

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Recruiting current players and recruits to follow him to Syracuse once he learned he wasn't getting the dc job here.

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That happens everywhere. That will happen with Kiffin too. That is not burning bridges.

Recruiting for Syracuse while on our staff.

Can't blame him for trying. Sad it didn't work out. Life moves on though. We're fine and he'll be fine too.

As was said at the time he left by a few of us, there is a reason that almost all DC's come from LB and DB coaches. DL, RB, WR, etc is where you hire recruiters.

Anybody remember the huge precentage of this board that was crying the blues and hammering the admin for letting him go instead of making him OUR DC. Dodged a bullet?

Outrigger said:

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Anybody remember the huge precentage of this board that was crying the blues and hammering the admin for letting him go instead of making him OUR DC. Dodged a bullet?

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lol you should have seen it on premium. Those dudes were obsessed with him becoming the dc. Made no damn sense.

Does this have anything to do with Tussi the rapper's commitment?

Hill08 said:

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Don't remember, but how did he burn that bridge?

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He walked on the MSC grass and then wore his hat inside!

Outrigger said:

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Anybody remember the huge precentage of this board that was crying the blues and hammering the admin for letting him go instead of making him OUR DC. Dodged a bullet?

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Hell, there were a few people that suggested we hire him as our new HC. Small minority but there were a few on here.

NoahAg said:

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Hill08 said:

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Don't remember, but how did he burn that bridge?

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He walked on the MSC grass and then wore his hat inside!

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I remember the first time I did it as a new Ag. Someone told me to "uncover" which I did right away.

NoahAg said:

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Hill08 said:

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Don't remember, but how did he burn that bridge?

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He walked on the MSC grass and then wore his hat inside!

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Well ... that's a problem.

Did he also stay "on the wood" during our school songs?

I know he was a popular choice when Jimbo got fired, many wanted him as our permanent head coach
I never understood the love fest with him.

You were offered so much to stay at Texas AM and you foolishly joined Syracuse.
This was a foolish decision.

The players clearly loved him and we were making on field progress with him and Coach Price. Plus he was a recruiting ace. It all went sideways for him after he left. Grass wasn't greener

infinity ag said:

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Jbob04 said:

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Recruiting current players and recruits to follow him to Syracuse once he learned he wasn't getting the dc job here.

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That happens everywhere. That will happen with Kiffin too. That is not burning bridges.

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It may but it's unethical to work against the interest of the school while they're still paying you. That's the sinister nature of the ******* known as Schlossnagle. Once he was employed by Syracuse, it could be expected, at least in the immoral world of college athletics.

As for SU, they've got a mess on their hands and nothing will change with those moves. Their problem starts with their disaster of a HC.

To be fair, they started off the year at 3-1 with a win over Clemson and then I think they were hit hard with injuries.

No one ever cares about other teams' injuries, but some years (we should know) injuries can be brutal.

Jbob04 said:

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Recruiting current players and recruits to follow him to Syracuse once he learned he wasn't getting the dc job here.

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which all coaches do these days when taking a job at a new school. It's just how it works these days...who cares

Remember there were people on here who wanted him promoted to HC? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

carl spacklers hat said:

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Remember there were people on here who wanted him promoted to HC? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

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I think there were some but he didn't go a good job in the 1 game he coached. He may have been made assistant DC but that is about it. DC would be a stretch at a school like A&M.