 He made his first career start on the road against #15 Wisconsin in a vital game that would help determine the Big Ten Leaders Division champion.After losing Justin Brown, who transferred to Oklahoma, Devon Smith, who transferred to Marshall, and Curtis Drake, who was dismissed after a violation of team rules, Robinson was quickly thrust into the spotlight as the team's number one returning wide receiver in 2012 under new head coach Bill O'Brien.Robinson quickly struck an accord with new coach Bill O'Brien and quarterback Matt McGloin, and subsequently caught nine passes for 97 receiving yards in the team's first game of the year, a 24–14 loss to Ohio on September 1.