October 14, 2025

Defender of the Nation Award Player Profile Landon Robinson

United States Naval Academy‘s Landon Robinson
6-0, 287, NG., Fairlawn, OH.

Athletic Bio/Honors
One of the best athletes on the team … a starter in 13 games during his career (0 Fr // 0 So // 13 Jr) … strongest player on the team, squatting 665 pounds, benching 465 pounds, has a 33-inch vertical and has been clocked 20.13 mph on the GPS … named to Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” in the Athletic each of the last 2 years … was ranked 92nd on the freaks least in 2023 and 48th in 2024 (2025 list was not out at the time of writing this bio)… along with Blake Horvath, was elected co-captain for the 2025 season by his teammates, one of the greatest honors a Navy Football player can receive… has earned 2 varsity letters.

2024: A starter in every game, he garnered First-Team All-AAC and All-East recognition … closed out the season with 61 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 7 QB hurries and 2 forced fumbles … turned in 5 tackles in the win over Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl … Navy’s defense snapped Army QB Bryson Daily’s school-record 10-consecutive games with 100 yards rushing, by holding him to a season-low 52 yards rushing … held Army, who came into the game ranked #1 in the FBS averaging 314.4 rushing yards per game, to just 113 yards on the ground … it was the Black Knights’ fewest rushing yards in the rivalry game since Dec. 12, 2009, when they carried the ball 40 times for 110 yards on the ground … also held Army without a rushing touchdown for the first time all year … held Army to its fewest points (13) in a game this season … played perhaps the best game of his career in the win over #19 Army and was named co-MVP alongside Blake Horvath … led the team with a career-high 13 tackles, including a half a tackle for loss … also forced a fumble … on 4th & 5 early in the 4th quarter, he took a fake punt and rumbled 29 yards for the 1st down … it was the 2nd time this season (USF / 34 yds) he has taken the snap on a fake punt and successfully earned the 1st down … recorded 4 tackles, including half a sack in the road win at East Carolina … contributed 4 tackles against #25 Tulane … turned in 2 tackles, including 1.5 sacks for a loss of 12 yards in Navy’s win at USF … also forced a fumble, the first of his career, that was recovered by teammate Jordan Sanders … took the snap on a fake punt and rumbled 34 yards for a first down … it was his second carry on a fake punt in his career (24 yds at SMU in 2024) … chipped in a solo tackle at Rice … posted 3 tackles against #12 Notre Dame … tied his career high in tackles with 6 in Navy’s Homecoming win over Charlotte … chipped in 5 tackles in the Mids’ win at Air Force … part of a defensive unit that limited Air Force to 7 points and 273 total yards … the 7 points scored by Air Force were the fewest it has scored at home against Navy and the 27-point win was Navy’s largest margin of victory over Air Force since 1978 … recorded 4 tackles, including a sack for a loss of 6 yards at UAB … posted 3 tackles and had 2 QB hurries against Memphis … turned in 5 tackles in the win against Temple in the AAC opener … made his first-collegiate start in the Mids’ win over Bucknell where he equaled his career high with 6 tackles … added a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and 2 quarterback hurries … also blocked Matt Schearer’s 29-yard field goal attempts.

2023: Robinson, who saw action in all 12 games, was the only nose guard and one of just 13 defensive linemen in the FBS to play on the kickoff team … closed out the year with 28 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks … gained 24 yards and a first down on a fake punt against SMU … it was his first-career carry … also pitched in a career-high 6 tackles against the Mustangs … helped lead Navy to a 10-0 win over East Carolina and its third shutout of the season which is the most in the FBS this season … it’s the first time Navy has recorded 3 shutouts in a season since 1978 when the Mids shut out 4 teams (Virginia, Connecticut, William & Mary, Army) … it also marked the 4th team Navy held without a touchdown this season (Wagner 0 pts, Charlotte 0 pts, UAB 2FGs, ECU 0 pts) … held the Pirates to just 189 yards of total offense, the fewest by a Navy opponent this season … pitched in a pair of tackles, including a sack and tackle for loss against ECU … the 6 points scored by UAB were its fewest since dropping a 49-6 decision to Florida Atlantic on Dec. 7, 2019 … that was also the last time the Blazers did not score a touchdown … turned in a pair of tackles, including a tackle for loss and a sack against UAB … chipped in a tackle at Temple … part of a defensive effort that held the nation’s leader in rushing, Air Force (334.2 yds/gm), to just 137 yards, while also holding the Falcons to just 1 of 13 (.077) on third downs after coming into the game #1 in the country (.594) … Navy’s defense recorded its second shutout of the season with a 14-0 win over Charlotte … the Mids held the 49ers to just 265 yards of total offense (123R/142P), while Navy posted 7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, broke up 6 passes and force 3 turnovers (2 INT, 1 fumble) … pitched in 4 tackles, including a sack of 6 yards against Charlotte … part of a defense that recorded a school-record 8 sacks and posted 10 tackles for loss in the win over North Texas … the defense also forced and recovered 2 fumbles … posted a tackle, including half a sack against the Mean Green … the defense held USF quarterback Byrum Brown (ranked #1 among QB’s in yards per game at 87.8) to -27 yards on the ground, but gave up 338 yards and 3 TDs through the air … finished the game against the Bulls with a career-high 5 tackles … posted 3 tackles and partnered with co-captain Will Harbour for a sack of QB Seth Henigan in the AAC opener against Memphis … part of a defensive unit that held Wagner scoreless, as Navy produced its first shutout since defeating Army 34-0 on Dec. 6, 2008 … it was also the Mids’ first shutout at home since beating Lafayette 7-0 on Oct. 15, 1994 … recorded 4 tackles against the Seahawks, including a half a tackle for loss … made his collegiate debut in the Mids’ opener against Notre Dame.

High School/Personal
A 2021 graduate of Copley High School in Copley, Ohio, Robinson attended the Naval Academy Prep School during the 2021-22 academic year … four-sport athlete who earned letters in baseball (2), football (3), track & field (1) and wrestling (2) … two-time (Jr / Sr) All-State (Ohio) selection who also was a two-time (Jr / Sr) First-Team All-District and First-Team All-Suburban honoree … served as football team captain his junior and senior years … district qualifier in wrestling his junior and senior years … member of the National Honor Society … previously committed to Lehigh, he also received offers from upwards of 20 FCS programs … father, Lance, attended Kent State where he was a member of the gymnastics team … son of Lance and Patrice Robinson … majoring in cyber operations … earned a 3.36 grade-point average last fall.

Navy Head Coach Brian Newberry: “He’s a phenomenal kid, first of all. His motor runs high. He’s a freak athletically,” Newberry said. “He’s got all the intangibles you want. He’s got all the physical qualities. For us, what we do defensively, we’re moving him and shaking it up front. We’re not gonna just put him in a 3-technique and then let him get doubled.”

The recipient of the Defender of the Nation Award will be announced on October 23 from one of the nation’s 15 distinguished military academies and ROTC programs. These include:

• United States Air Force Academy
• Appalachian State University
• Auburn University
• The Citadel
• United States Coast Guard Academy
• Michigan State University
• United States Naval Academy
• Norwich University
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
• Texas A&M University
• Virginia Tech
• Virginia Military Institute (VMI)
• University of South Carolina
• Villanova University
• United States Military Academy (West Point)

This prestigious award honors a student-athlete who demonstrates exceptional leadership on the field, in the classroom, and within the community. The recipient must also uphold a high standard of integrity and lead by example.

In conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America, the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet will take place on Monday, December 8, at the Charlotte Convention Center.

The evening will honor several of college football’s finest, including:

• The Defender of the Nation Award recipient.
• The prestigious Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner.
• The 2025 Legends Award honoree: Ron Rivera, University of California-Berkely, Class of 1983, alumnus and esteemed NFL coach.

In addition, University of Oklahoma legendary linebacker Brian Bosworth is slated to deliver the keynote address.
This annual banquet is a celebration of excellence in college football, recognizing standout performances, leadership, and integrity both on and off the field.

ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE TOUCHDOWN CLUB
The Charlotte Touchdown Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1990,is dedicated to promoting the full spectrum of football and athletics–from youth and middle school to high school, collegiate, and professional–throughout the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the Club has experienced significant growth and diversification, now supported by a sponsor team of more than 75 companies. The Club’s initiatives focus on celebrating and elevating Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership among area athletes and coaches. Through generous individual and corporate contributions, the Charlotte Touchdown Club has raised and donated over $3 million to support its ongoing scholarship programs.

ABOUT CAPITAL GROUP OF COMPANIES
Rick Hughes has a successful 46-year track record in the automotive finance and insurance industry. Rick worked with publicly held NY Stock Exchange companies, setting up their F&I Programs. Rick worked with Sonic Automotive on setting up their F&I Program, with NCADA to form and market their NC Life program and industry-leading programs to increase dealer revenue. Prior to starting Capital Automotive, Rick was the Director of Business Development for one of the world’s largest automotive finance product and service companies. Rick coordinated various international field forces, presented at BSF and CEO Ninety, and personally developed hundreds of successful dealership personnel. As CEO of the Capital Companies, he created Flex-Pro, a patented program which allows an additional income stream coupled with products, insurance, and reinsurance administrative services. The Capital Companies refers to four unique companies: Capital Benefits Group—Structures custom benefit options based on your business needs, Capital Automotive—Gives dealerships the edge they need to meet and exceed their goals, Capital Processing Systems—Provides state-of-the-art products, administration, insurance and reinsurance services to complement dealership and shareholder financial goals, and Data Dot Dealer Services—Least expensive, most effective anti-theft deterrent ever created. We are a group of companies that work together to help dealers capitalize on their investments. We keep our clients in the game and moving toward the goal line through our consumer and client-centric products and administrative services.

ABOUT VETERANS BRIDGE HOME
Veterans Bridge Home connects Veterans and their families, in any state of transition, to the community. Through our network of partners, we help Veterans navigate employment, create social connections, and settle their families. We look at the whole Veteran and connect them to the resources needed to be successful and thriving leaders in our community. Veterans Bridge Home serves as an entry point for Veterans who don’t know where to turn to access support and services. Because Veterans return home to a civilian community and not to federal agencies or bureaucracies, each community must reach out and actively assist in the reintegration process alongside federal agencies such as the Veterans Administration. The Carolinas have the opportunity and privilege to help bring our nation’s warriors and their families home with the same energy and commitment that our Veterans have displayed in serving our nation. In so doing, ours will serve as a leader to inform other communities that wish to create more welcoming and livable communities for returning Veterans and their families.

PREVIOUS DEFENDER OF THE NATION AWARD RECIPIENTS
2024 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Shayne Leddy
2023 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Trey Taylor
2022 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Dax Hollifield
2021 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Arik Smith
2019 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Kyle Johnson
2018 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Sean Williams
2017 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Greg Sanders
2016 Defender of The Nation Award Recipient: Andrew King

2025 DEFENDER OF THE NATION PLAYER PROFILES
• September 4: USAF / Aidan Swartz
• September 8: South Carolina / Jalon Kilgore
• September 11: The Citadel / Josh Cole
• September 15: Villanova / Shane Hartzell
• September 18: Texas A&M / Taurean York
• September 22: Auburn / Keldric Faulk
• September 25: Norwich / Maddox Reed
• October 1: US Naval Academy / Landon Robinson
• October 23: Defender of the Nation Recipient Announced