UCLA Football Player Profiles: Dorian Thompson-Robinson
By Tyler Glaze
High School
Thompson-Robinson is one of the most intriguing FBS quarterbacks due to his prep school career; he spent the vast majority of it playing wide receiver. While some may assume this is a knock on his ability as a signal caller, it is widely acknowledged that the only reason he did not start at quarterback for the Bishop Gorman Gaels prior to his senior year was the presence of Gatorade National Player of the Year Tate Martell. Thompson-Robinson made his presence known at wide receiver, and was so athletic and well-regarded he was a top 100 national quarterback prospect before he even started a game at the position. When he finally took the starting quarterback job, Thompson-Robinson had a fantastic season, throwing for over 3,000 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, while rushing for over 400 yards and seven touchdowns.
On the recruiting trail, Thompson-Robinson received offers nationwide, including from such powerhouses as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, and Texas, but it was the UCLA Bruins who earned the pledge of the coveted quarterback. Thompson-Robinson originally committed to head coach Jim Mora in April of 2017, prior to his firing in November of that same year. It took the hiring of head coach Chip Kelly, a renowned offensive mind, to keep Thompson-Robinson bound for the Bruins.