Jul 21, 2026 By Eleanor Bailey 7 min read

Ryan Robbins sat upon a stool barely capable of containing his girth as spectators took aim at a target connected to a contraption that once triggered by a direct hit would release ice water upon his 6-8, 280-pound frame.

Though he is a Penn State University recruit, he subjected himself to what is widely considered humiliating hijinks because it was all part of a fundraising event for the Upper St. Clair High School football team.

“Despite his success, despite all the attention that comes along with being a Power 4 recruit, Ryan’s just so humble,” said USC football coach Mike Junko. “He’s one of our most loved teammates.

“He’s just a kid that gives everything that he has to his teammates because he loves those guys,” Junko continued. “That’s just his personality.”

Robbins described his participation in past community day activities, which also included marching in a parade with his WPIAL championship basketball teammates, as a civic duty.

“(The community) is always cheering for us, so why can’t we do something for them,” he said simply. “It’s definitely important that we come out here and do this for the community.”

Robbins is certainly bringing pride and recognition to Upper St. Clair.

A three-year starter, he’s been the center of attention on the basketball team, which has captured three consecutive WPIAL championships and he’s again expected to be the anchor of the offensive line for the football team that is predicted to challenge for a district championship after reaching the semifinals the past two years.

“We’re just really working towards that WPIAL championship this year,” Robbins said.

Since the Panthers lost to Central Dauphin, 55-52, in the PIAA Class 6A boys basketball semifinals on St. Patrick’s Day, Robbins has been in the weight room preparing for football. He took no time off after a 27-2 season where he earned Almanac MVP and all-conference honors for averaging a team-high 15 points and 11.2 rebounds a game to go along with 2.3 blocked shots.

“Ryan sets such a great example. He’s really become a leader,” Junko said. “He’s not just a big guy. He’s that rare two-sport athlete that gives a great effort all the time and he hasn’t let all the attention and notoriety bother him or interfere in what he wants to do for the team. He loves the guys that he plays with and he’s a joy to have in the program.”

Robbins started playing football in his youth and made the varsity roster as a freshman. He’s a three-year starter and a two-time all-conference tackle.

“My teammates are definitely my friends. I’m buddies with all of them. They know I’m not just out here playing for myself. I’m playing for them, too.

“This is definitely a team sport and I’m not going to come out here and run (the show) by myself. I need to win with four other guys on the offensive line and all the other guys on the team. It’s definitely not a one-man sport.”

Playing tackle, on both sides of the line, is not a glory position. Robbins understands and accepts that.

“It’s tough but I really just do it for everyone else,” he said. “I mean it feels good when we’re doing great, and everyone else is getting recognition, because they deserve it too. I’m just happy to be here and working for them and doing what I can to help out the team.

“I’m trying to make sure that my team knows that I’m there for them. I’m just coming every day and working with the team, making sure that I’m staying consistent so we can win games. I try to lead by example and do what’s right. I just try to do the best I can every single day.”

That work ethic plus talent drew attention from college recruiters. He had at least 18 football scholarship offers, including Ohio State, Pitt, Nebraska, Indiana, Boston College, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech, before committing to Penn State.

“I really fell in love with all the coaches and they really recruited me super hard,” Robbins said. “I just felt a connection with Penn State. I knew that was the place where I really wanted to go.”

Robbins said he experienced “zero” pressure regarding his decision, particularly from his parents even though two of his options were from their alma maters.

His father, Tim, played football at the University of Pittsburgh, first as a defensive lineman before transitioning to tight end. Eventually, he played all the offensive line positions.

His mother, Kim, played basketball at Virginia Tech. A Mount Lebanon graduate, she set records and attained honors while finishing among the Hokies’ Top 10 players in some offensive categories.

“I looked at the schools as the schools themselves, not where my parents went. They weren’t leaning any way with other colleges. They agree with my decision. They knew that Penn State was the perfect fit for me.”

Junko concurred. He reiterated that Penn State is a “really good fit” for Robbins.

“Ryan cared very deeply about the coaches that he was going to play for and that was really a deciding factor for him,” Junko said. “He had a great connection with the coaching staff.

“Nowadays, guys choose schools for a lot of the wrong reasons. The academic piece certainly was important to Ryan as was his connection to the coaching staff. He feels like they’re gonna be there for a long time, and he wants to be a part of things for a long time. So I think he made his decisions for the right reasons.”

Robbins has made another choice that is correct for him. He will not matriculate to Penn State in January. He plans to play basketball for Upper St. Clair in the winter and graduate with his classmates in June of 2027.

Junko said that stipulation was a big part of the recruitment process for Robbins. “He wanted to make sure that he had an opportunity to play basketball this winter,” he said. “Nowadays, schools sometimes put pressure on you to give up that second semester of your senior year, but that was very important to him.

“That kind of goes back to the person that he is,” Junko continued. “He wanted to be there for his teammates. He feels like they have some unfinished business. He wants to be a part of that with those guys.

“I really applaud him, because you just don’t see that nowadays. Penn State was willing to work with him on that and that meant a lot to him.”

Robbins assured the Nittany Lions coaching staff he will remain in contact but his high school goals and friendships take precedence.

“I can’t wait to get up there,” Robbins said of Penn State. “But I still have my senior season left.

“It’s going to be exciting, especially playing for such a fan base. It’s such a unique tradition and playing in front of 100,000 fans, but we have Friday night football here and I love playing in front of my community and with my friends.

“Some people might be graduating early, and going to Penn State early, but I’m staying home, playing basketball and finishing my senior years of high school. My Penn State coaches will have things for me to do as well because there’s always more room for improvement. Once I get there, there’s probably going to be so much to work on. I’m aware of that but right now I have a lot of time and things I’d like to finish up here at St. Clair.”