In 2021, Chop Robinson could only watch as Penn State rolled over his team 31-14 on his home turf.

Taulia Tagovailoa was forced to throw 57 times in an unsuccessful attempt to halt the momentum of a record-breaking Sean Clifford-Jahan Dotson connection. Robinson would swap allegiances just a few months later, transferring to Penn State in April.

“They still supported me wherever I went, even when I hopped in the portal. So, I still have ties with everybody,” Robinson said following the game. “A few guys…in my class, we probably talk damn near every day. Excuse my language.”

Facing off against his former team for the first time in his career Saturday, Robinson experienced a new side of a Penn State-Maryland blowout. The defensive end was instrumental in inducing the same sort of offensive futility that plagued the Terrapins during last season’s matchup.

As Tagovailoa was held under to just 74 yards passing and running back Roman Hemby was held to just 68 rushing yards throughout the game, their former teammate mowed down multiple offense linemen lined up opposite him en route to the Nittany Lions’ 30-0 shutout victory.

“I actually never had a shutout when I was in college,” Robinson said. “That was my first one.”

Despite his excitement, Robinson’s career reflection wasn’t accurate. In September 2021, his team at the time shut out Howard 62-0. Though given the former Terp’s later comments lauding the Penn State atmosphere, it’s perhaps easy to understand why the milestone may have slipped Robinson’s mind.

Robinson ended with two of his team’s seven sacks, simultaneously placing him atop Penn State’s sack column on the day and the season. While especially noteworthy, Robinson’s individual success was only one part of the dominant whole that was Penn State’s front seven on Saturday.

In the first half, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz’s squad held Maryland to just 27 yards of total offense. Forcing three-and-outs on five occasions, the Nittany Lion defense racked up five sacks – including one from Robinson.

“Once you start doing that to an offense, you can see the guys turning against each other, pointing fingers, [and] arguing with each other,” Robinson said. “Once their offense start[s] doing that, that’s when you have ’em. You get to control the game.”

Even as he recognized Maryland’s mounting frustration as early as the first quarter, Robinson said the animosity wasn’t directed toward him.

“It was crazy at first, just knowing that I’m playing against the guys,” Robinson said. “It was fun. When I was lining up against the [offensive] tackle, we both know each other… so we was both laughing at each other during the game.”

All in all, Robinson refused to admonish his former team. Saying he didn’t trash talk Tagovailoa after sacks, the defensive end praised his former quarterback.

“He’s a good player,” Robinson only offered. “He’s going to be great.”

The impact of Robinson’s familiarity with Maryland extended beyond creating game storylines. After a year of working in their building, Robinson reported coming into the week confident in his knowledge of the Terps’ pass sets and cadences.

Whether it was due to Robinson’s past experience with the opponent or just the continuation of a recent hot streak on the part of Diaz’s defense, Penn State dominated the entirety of its contest with Maryland. With the comfortable nature of the win over his newfound conference rival, it seems unlikely Robinson is reconsidering his transfer – an event he once called the best decision of his life.

When asked to compare his current and former programs, Robinson summed it up in a sentence.

“Penn State is just Penn State,” he said. “And Maryland is just Maryland.”