Miami Dolphins’ rookie first-round selection, Chop Robinson, is set to face off against his former Penn State comrade, Ola Fashanu, now with the New York Jets. For the Dolphins, the key to containing Aaron Rodgers and the Jets will be to put constant pressure on the illustrious quarterback. Central to this mission is Robinson, while Fashanu, another first-round pick, will be tasked with guarding Rodgers.

Interestingly, Robinson and Fashanu share a history as teammates at Penn State and remain close friends. Robinson mentioned this week, “He messaged me recently saying, ‘I better get that jersey,’ and I assured him that we’ll make it happen post-game.”

The Jets chose Fashanu with the 11th overall selection in the 2024 draft, while Robinson was picked by the Dolphins 10 slots later. Robinson has started once for Miami, whereas Fashanu has been a starter in four games for the Jets, stepping in after injuries sidelined veteran tackles Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith. Recently, Robinson has excelled at pressuring quarterbacks, although he had a subdued performance in the Thanksgiving night defeat to the Green Bay Packers.

Fashanu, on the other hand, has stood out in an otherwise bleak season for the Jets. In 351 snaps this year, Fashanu has allowed just a single sack and committed three penalties. In the Jets’ 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, he didn’t concede any pressure during 42 pass-block snaps.

“Chop is my guy,” Fashanu expressed to the New York Daily News. “We’re like brothers. Our bond grew strong at Penn State. We grew up near each other, and it’s unique for us to be playing in the NFL after our time at Penn State, especially on opposing teams and both as first-round picks. I’m really thrilled about it.” Both Fashanu and Robinson hail from Maryland, although Robinson started his college journey at Maryland before transferring to Penn State.

“When I arrived at Penn State, I kept hearing about Olu’s talent, and when I faced him, he knocked me down, and I thought, ‘Alright, he’s legit,’” Robinson recalled. “The daily one-on-ones against him in practice made me better.”

It’s worth noting that the Jets’ struggles with pass protection go beyond the tackle position, so interior linemen like Calais Campbell and Zach Sieler might be the ones to pressure Rodgers. Nonetheless, Robinson would undoubtedly relish the opportunity to outmaneuver his friend and reach the quarterback. “It’s advantageous for us since he knows Fashanu well, which is something rookies usually lack,” Campbell remarked about Robinson.

“This familiarity allows him to play more like a veteran this week, which could be beneficial. Of course, Fashanu also knows Chop well from their practice days. We’ll see how it unfolds, but I’m optimistic because Chop is evolving into a solid player. His confidence is growing, and it’s exciting to witness.”