There are no shortage of former teammates University of Regina Rams defensive back Dolani Robinson can ask for advice as he prepares to enter the CFL.
“Jaxon Ford, guys like Jackson Sombach and Adrian Greene from Calgary. Kieran Poissant, I played West Shore with him, he's in B.C. right now,” Robinson said. "Ryan Varga is with the Argos, and Tanner Schmekel is with the Blue Bombers."
Robinson competed at the 2025 CFL Combine, which took place in Regina, Saskatchewan. He recorded a 4.52-second 40-yard time, 4.25-second short shuttle, 6.97-second three-cone, 36-inch vertical and 10-foot, three-and-a-half-inch broad jump. The six-foot-one, 190 pound cover man was not fazed by the interview process.
“Guys were kind of scared, kind of nervous, hearing from other guys,” Robinson said. “They want to know who you are as a person. It's not really football stuff they talk about. They want to know who you are as a human being."
CFL Draft expert and TSN colour commentator Duane Forde gave Robinson a positive review for his overall CFL Combine performance.
"He Is one of those guys that personifies this draft class of defensive backs. You look at the combination of height and length, long arms able to cover some ground playing the ball, but very athletic as well, Forde said. "Sometimes you lose a little bit of that with taller defensive backs. That's not the case with Dolani and other guys in this draft class."
Due to recent success by Canadian defensive backs in the CFL, Forde likes Robinson's chances of playing professional football.
"The combination of Tyrell Ford having the success that he had last year, Tevaughn Campbell coming back to the league this year, you're seeing teams be more open-minded to the opportunity for Canadian corners to get on the field and play," Ford explained. "That's the thing that makes you look at Dolani and others, as I said in this draft class, to projecting them as starters or potential starters down the road."
Previously, Robinson played for the Westshore Rebels in the Canadian Junior Football League from 2021-2022 then came to play for the Rams from 2023-2024. Last year, he suited up in nine games for Regina, registering 22 tackles and three pass deflections.
"Seeing that I could compete with guys and did a good job my first year playing boundary corner, which guards the best receiver, that motivated me that I could actually do it,' Robinson said.
There's an interesting story about Robinson and why he wore No. 11 for the Rams.
"Usually, I wear No. 1 -- it's just a number I wear," Robinson detailed. "When I came here, they gave me double one and I was going to switch to one, but then guys were telling me to keep one because it's a one-of-one."
Robinson credits his brother for getting him into football.
"My high school coach was coming up to me one day and asking me to play football -- I wasn't sure about it," Robinson recalled. "My brother forced me to do it, so that's how I started playing in grade 11."
The bond between Dolani and his brother Jahmarley is special and one he cherishes.
"I'll say my brother is always pushing me, always motivating me, telling me to keep going," Robinson explained. "He's not playing football anymore. He always messages me every time to keep going. He's the one who pushed me and shaped me into who I am today."
After his football playing days are done, Robinson has aspirations to be a teacher.
“I want to be a good teacher,” Robinson explained. "Just kind of giving back in a way, I've always worked with kids.”
Robinson had a special message he wanted to share with his fans.
"My advice is whatever you want to do, even if it's outside football, never give up. I'm a kid from Jamaica [where] football doesn't exist," Robinson said.
"I came to Canada, I was trying sports, falling in love with sports and didn't know the rules -- I didn't give up, I kept going. Even on days when I wasn't good enough to compete with guys that actually played football their whole life, I never gave up. I kept trying, kept getting extra work in, and kept asking questions. It got me to where I am today."
Now Robinson waits to hear his name called during the 2025 CFL Draft on Tuesday, April 29 and find out where his pro football career begins.
