The Oklahoman's Super 30: How Demarius Robinson helped fuel Edmond Santa Fe's turnaround

Friends and family know exactly where to find Demarius Robinson on his off days.

Following his breakout junior season, Robinson needed time away from his demands on the football field. The pressure of his recruitment process only added to his desire for an escape.

So, Robinson attempted to pick up fishing as a hobby nine miles south of Edmond Santa Fe High School at Lake Hefner. It's since stuck with him as he sets aside time alone each week.

The lake was always home to a family affair, with his loved ones often sharing stories of their fishing adventures. But it wasn't until after his junior year that Robinson decided to try it independently.

"For me, it's something about hearing the water flow that makes me feel calm," Robinson said. "There aren't many places I can go that make me sit in one place like that, but I love it now. It's peaceful out there."

Since adolescence, Robinson has always been a reserved kid with his own definition of peace.

Coming in at No. 22 on The Oklahoman's Super 30 recruiting rankings for the 2025 class, Robinson began playing football at 6 and has since developed a knack for reaching the end zone.

CATCH UP: A look at The Oklahoman's 2025 Super 30 high school football recruiting series

Scoring provides a dopamine rush for Robinson. He feels a sense of accomplishment after adding points to the scoreboard.

He strives to recreate that feeling while reeling in fish at the lake.

"Once you catch that first fish, you're going to be like, 'Man, I want to do that again and again,'" Robinson said. "It's kind of the same feeling as when I scored my first touchdown freshman year. It's how I feel when I'm at peace."

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound running back had his fair share of moments in the end zone in 2023.

A three-star recruit according to the 247Sports composite rankings, Robinson committed to play at Arizona State on June 19.

He also received nearly a dozen other scholarship offers, including Kansas State, Houston, North Texas and Tulsa.

"From the moment I first met Demarius, I could tell he was hungry," Edmond Santa Fe head coach Kyle White said. "It can be easy for a young man that's had the success that he's had to become content, but he stayed hungry through it all. You could tell from his practices early on that he would help us win a lot of football games."

White's vision of Robinson's explosion was once hard to grasp.

He entered his junior campaign recovering from a sports hernia injury, which sidelined him for most of the season. As a result, Edmond Santa Fe won just one game in 2022.

It was one of the worst seasons in Wolves' program history.

More: The Oklahoman's Super 30: Idabel's Ravian Larry ready to prove himself again after injury

"That was a tough year for sure," Robinson said. "Last summer, I used to focus on scoring that first touchdown to push me to go harder. I just wanted to return to 100%, and everything else would work itself out."

And Robinson did just that — plus more.

He led Class 6A-I in rushing as a junior, recording 2,176 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground to help the Wolves finish third in their district. He broke multiple school records while earning Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors.

"I wasn't even known for real around the city last year," Robinson said. "Now I feel like everyone knows my face. It felt good to finally get recognition because I always knew the player I could be."

Robinson tries to emulate his game after former NFL running backs Barry Sanders and Darren Sproles. Like the two, Robinson operates as a smaller power back while utilizing his elusiveness as a pass catcher in the backfield.

He aims to show younger kids that you can overcome a lack of size and leave a grand impact on the game.

"I just love football no matter how hard it can be at times," Robinson said. "I love making people miss. I love putting players on my highlight reel. The game has brought me so much happiness, and I want to continue playing that way at the next level."

More: The Oklahoman’s Super 30: Jon Grimmett’s growth leads to purpose at Pauls Valley

The Oklahoman’s 2025 Super 30

• Name: Demarius Robinson
• School: Edmond Santa Fe
• Super 30 ranking: No. 22
• Height: 5-foot-10
• Weight: 175 pounds
• Position: Running back
• Committed to: Arizona State

The Oklahoman’s 2025 Super 30 feature series

The Oklahoman ’s Super 30 feature series will spotlight each high school football player on the Super 30 recruit rankings for the 2025 class through July 21. The series continued Saturday with No. 22, Edmond Santa Fe’s Demarius Robinson. Here are the previous players we’ve featured:

• No. 23: Ryan Grayson, CB Beggs
• No. 24: Eric Harris, CB, Owasso
• No. 25: Deante Lindsay, CB, Ada
• No. 26: Ravian Larry, RB,  Idabel
• No. 27: Jon Grimmett, TE, Pauls Valley
• No. 28: Jamarian Ficklin, QB, Muskogee
• No. 29: Brayden Knox, LB, Putnam City
• No. 30: Xzavier Thompson, WR, Millwood

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: The Oklahoman's Super 30: How Demarius Robinson helped fuel Edmond Santa Fe's turnaround