USC's Nickell Robey returned two punts for 34 yards, recorded two total tackles (one solo, one assisted) and broke up two passes in the Trojans' 49-10 win over Hawaii on Sept.1.
USC's Nickell Robey had five solo tackles and returned one punt for 12 yards in the Trojans' 42-29 win over Syracuse on Sept. 8.
USC's Nickell Robey recorded five total tackles (three solo, two assisted) in the Trojans' 21-14 loss to Stanford on Sept. 15.
USC's Nickell Robey notched four total tackles (three solo, one assisted) and returned two punts for six yards in the Trojans 27-9 win over California on Sept. 22.
Nickell Robey and the USC Trojans did not compete in Week 5.
USC's Nickell Robey recorded seven total tackles (four solo, three assisted), returned one punt for 22 yards, forced a fumble and snatched one interception and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown in the Trojans 38-28 win over Utah on Oct. 4.
USC's Nickell Robey had one solo tackle and returned two punts for two yards in the Trojans 24-14 win over Washington on Oct. 13.
USC's Nickell Robey tallied three total tackles (two solo, one assisted) and one pass breakup in the Trojans 50-6 win over Colorado on Oct. 20.
USC's Nickell Robey notched four total tackles (three solo, one assisted) in the Trojans 39-36 loss to Arizona on Oct. 27.
USC's Nickell Robey had six tackles (three solo, three assisted) and blocked a field goal in the Trojans 62-51 loss to Oregon on Nov. 3.
USC's Nickell Robey had five total tackles (four solo, one assisted) in the Trojans 38-21 win over Arizona State on Nov. 10.
USC's Nickell Robey tallied three solo tackles and a pass breakup in the Trojans 38-28 loss on Nov. 17.
USC's Nickell Robey recorded four tackles (two solo, two assisted), including one for a loss, and also broke up a pass in the Trojans 22-13 loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 24.
Date Result Team Score Opponent Score
09.01.2012 W 49-10 USC 49 Hawaii 10
09.08.2012  W 42-29 USC 42 Syracuse 29
09.15.2012  L 21-24  USC  14  Stanford  21 
09.22.2012 W 27-9 USC 27 California 9
10.04.2012 W 38-28 USC 38 Utah 28
10.13.2012 W 24-14 USC 24 Washington 14
10.20.2012 W 50-6 USC 50 Colorado 6
10.27.2012 L 39-36 USC 36 Arizona 39
11.03.2012 L 62-51 USC 51 Oregon 62
11.10.2012 W 38-21 USC 38 Arizona State 21
11.17.2012 L 38-28 USC 28 UCLA 38
11.24.2012 L 22-13 USC 13 Notre Dame 22

CAREER: He has 111 tackles, 6 interceptions and 13 deflections in his career. He has 24 career starts.

 2012: The veteran Robey, a lockdown cornerback who is a Thorpe Award candidate, returns for his third season as a starter as a junior in 2012. He also could returns punts and kicks. He also competes on USC's track team.

 2011: Robey started for his second season at cornerback as a sophomore in 2011. Overall in 2011 while starting all 12 games, he had 63 tackles, including 5.5 for losses (with 2 sacks), a team-high 9 deflections and 2 interceptions (with a TD), plus 12 punt returns for 132 yards (11.0 avg.) and a 20-yard kickoff return. He made the 2011 CollegeFootballNews.com Sophomore All-American second team. He made the 2011 All-Pac-12 first team. He made the 2011 ESPN.com, CBSSports.com, CollegeFootballNews.com and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 first team. He won USC's 2011 John McKay Award.

 He had 4 tackles (0.5 for loss) and also returned 2 punts for 19 yards against Minnesota. He had 5 tackles, 2 deflections and 2 punt returns for 5 yards versus Utah. He had 4 tackles and returned 2 punts for 3 yards against Syracuse. He had 2 tackles and returned 2 punts for 51 yards (with a 44-yarder) at Arizona State. He added 4 tackles against Arizona and 6 tackles and 2 deflections at California. He then had 6 tackles, a deflection and a late interception to seal the victory at Notre Dame (he also had a 9-yard punt return) to earn USC's Player of the Game versus Notre Dame Award. He had 10 tackles, a deflection and returned a fourth quarter interception 33 yards for a TD against Stanford. He had 4 tackles (1 for a loss) at Colorado, then 3 tackles, a deflection and a 20-yard kickoff return against Washington and 6 tackles at Oregon. He had 9 tackles (with 2 sacks) and 2 deflections along with 2 punt returns for 40 yards against UCLA.

 2010: Just a first-year freshman, Robey started all of 2010 at cornerback and performed well. Overall in 2010 while starting all 13 games, he had 48 tackles, including 1.5 for losses, plus had a team-high 4 interceptions with 1 TD, 4 deflections and 1 forced fumble. He made 2010 Collegefootballnews.com Freshman All-American honorable mention, All-Pac-10 honorable mention and Phil Steele All-Pac-10 fourth team.

 He became the first USC true freshman to start a season opener at cornerback in the post-World War II era when he had 6 tackles and a deflection against Hawaii. He then had 2 tackles and 2 deflections against Virginia and 5 tackles at Minnesota. At Washington State, he had 3 tackles and 2 interceptions (including a 25-yard TD return and an 8-yarder to set up a USC TD) to become the first Trojan freshman to get 2 picks in a game since Mike Salmon did so in 1990 against Arizona State. He added 5 tackles against Washington, then 2 tackles each against Stanford, California and Oregon. He had 6 tackles (0.5 for a loss) and an interception against Arizona State, 3 tackles (1 for a loss) at Arizona, 5 tackles at Oregon State, 3 tackles against Notre Dame and 4 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a deflection at UCLA.

 TRACK: He is a long jumper and sprinter on USC's track team. He had a 2012 season best of 23-11 ½ to finish second in the long jump at the USC-UCLA Dual Meet. He joined with fellow footballers D.J. Morgan, Marqise Lee and Tony Burnett on a sprint relay quartet that ran 41.05 for third place at the 2012 Rossi Relays.

 HIGH SCHOOL: His 2009 honors included Super Prep All-Dixie as a senior defensive back and running back at Frostproof (Fla.) High. He had 764 yards on 88 carries (8.9 avg.) with 9 TDs and caught 17 passes for 232 yards (13.7 avg.) with 6 TDs on offense, had 73 tackles, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles on defense and averaged 17.1 yards on 8 punt returns and 34.7 yards on 7 kickoff returns in 2009.

 As a junior in 2008, he made All-State 2B first team and All-County first team. He ran for 1,600 yards with 10 TDs and caught 33 passes for 475 yards (14.4 avg.) with 4 TDs on offense and had 6 interceptions on defense.

 As a sophomore in 2007, he ran for 1,500 yards on offense and had 40 tackles and 7 interceptions on defense.

 He also was on Frostproof's baseball (earning All-State second team honors) and track (bests of 10.71 in the 100 meters, 23-9 in the long jump and 45-11 in the triple jump) teams. He was the 2010 State 2A District 8 and Region 2 long jump champion.

 PERSONAL: His cousin is Carlton Thomas, was a tailback at Georgia (2009-11). He and 15 of his USC teammates spent 5 days in Haiti in the spring of 2012 building homes and assisting those in need.

Copyright 2012. The Paul Hornung Award. All Rights Reserved.