Paul VI star Robinson chooses Stanford

It's one thing to say getting an education is the most important factor, but it's another thing when scholarship opportunities present themselves to high school football players.

"He wanted to go to the University of Pennsylvania," Cleophus Robinson III said. "I was trying to figure out how to pay for it. Ultimately, the full scholarship [to Stanford] was a huge thing, and I'm just being honest."

Understand that Cleophus Robinson IV, better known around South Jersey as Cleo, has always aspired to be an engineer. The 6-2, 220-pound outside linebacker for Paul VI High always has pushed himself academically, and that, in turn, according to his father and mother Carmen, was the reason he attended Paul VI.

The younger Robinson's speed and quickness are largely why football opened the door to a school other than Penn - which, as a member of the Ivy League, doesn't offer scholarships.

"I really didn't think about it," said Robinson, who will sign his letter of intent this morning with Stanford. "I think coach [John Doherty] sent a tape to Stanford on a Friday, and, on Monday, we got a call from [Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh]. I think it was pretty obvious where I was going to go at that point."

That's an understatement. Again, Robinson was all about taking advantage of the best opportunity, and Stanford is beyond most any opportunity.

On the football side, the Cardinal plays in the Pac-10, along with national powers USC and Oregon, as well as rival California. More important, according to the Stanford Web site, the National Research Council's last study of American doctoral programs ranked Stanford No. 1 in computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering; No. 3 in aeronautics and astronautics and civil engineering; and in the top seven for chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and materials science and engineering.

"Yeah, I did my research," the younger Robinson said. "I checked everything out about the school, both academically and on the football side.

"Stanford has produced great scientists. It has produced great engineers, and it's been out front in technology.

"I knew about John Elway, and I had heard about the incident with the band. I actually YouTubed that and couldn't believe that. What the heck were they thinking running on the field?"

Granted, the Stanford band's moment of infamy happened more than 25 years ago, but that's part of a history Robinson delved into before making his official visit. After the visit, even the smallest doubts were removed.

"The campus was great, it's in a great area of the country, and the school offers me everything I could possibly want," Robinson said. "It's an opportunity for me to take in a new lifestyle."

"I never thought of football as his way to college," Carmen Robinson said. "Only so many kids can make it to college that way. I always told him to pursue all of his options, but to make sure he focused on his grades first.

"I'm so excited for him. We went out there, and we even got to meet Condoleezza Rice. We got a picture with her."

Football is a big part of Cleo Robinson's life. It also will be a big part of his college life.

"He's an outside linebacker that can play against both the run and in coverage," Doherty said. "Against the type of wide-open offenses the Pac-10 features, [Stanford] will challenge [Robinson's] versatility, and that's a good thing. Cleo has always stepped up to a challenge. You can see that just by looking at our tapes.

"The biggest moments, the biggest plays, Cleo stepped up. I don't see that changing in college."

Robinson averaged a sack per game, along with five tackles, as the Eagles went 9-1 this year. Add in a pair of blocked punts, and the stat sheet alone shows his ability to do just about anything on the defensive side of the ball.

"They play a 4-3 defense," the future Cardinal said. "They like the explosiveness they saw on tape. I'm going to be used all over, and that's fine with me." *

Send e-mail to mradano@phillynews.com.

Note: Players are listed with their high school, followed by their college choice:

Ryan Baranowsky, DE, 6-2, 240, Bishop Eustace, Maine

Joe Brennan, QB, 6-4, 195, Camden Catholic, Wisconsin

Sherard Cadogan, DE, 6-3, 225, Camden Catholic, Wisconsin

Sean Daniels, RB, 6-3, 220, Highland, Temple

Dyshawn Davis, WR, 6-3, 195, Woodbury, Syracuse

Sean Farrell, RB, 6-4, 230, Cherokee, Lehigh

Ian Evans, DE, 6-3, 250, Hammonton, Maryland

Zach Greenwald, LB, 6-1, 217, Paulsboro, Sacred Heart

Nahjee Gibson, RB/DB, 5-11, 180, , Timber Creek, Temple

Brandon Hill, QB, 6-4, 195, Audubon, Massachusetts

Craig James, QB, 6-0, 190, Oakcrest, Villanova

Sebastian Jaskowski, RB/LB, 6-0, 205, Moorestown, Penn

Tejay Johnson, DB, 6-1, 181, , Egg Harbor Twp., Rutgers

Reece Johnson, OL, 6-4, 278, Shawnee, Monmouth

Darnell Laws, RB, 6-0, 202, St. Augustine, William & Mary

Antoine Lewis, DL, 6-3, 251, Mainland, Villanova

Trevor Loveland, TE, 6-2, 210, Cherry Hill West, Colgate

Josh Martinez, OL, 6-3, 285, Cherry Hill West, Wagner

Sean McPherson, RB/DB, 6-1, 195, Delsea, Washburn

Austin Medley, RB, 5-11, 198, Delsea, Villanova

Scott Miller, QB, 6-0, 185, Egg Harbor Twp., Harvard

Jimmy Owens, RB, 5-9, 200, West Deptford, New Hampshire

Chris Pondo, DL, 6-4, 220, Delsea, Harvard

Corey Reeder, WR, 6-3, 185, Pemberton, Villanova

Greg Reese, TE, 6-4, 220, Woodrow Wilson, Hampton

Thaddeus Richards, WR, 6-0, 185, N. Burlington, Monmouth

Cleo Robinson, LB, 6-2, 220, Paul VI, Stanford

Dustin Thomas, QB, 6-2, 190, St. Augustine, Villanova