Howard University sophomore midfielder Naim Robinson expected to make an immediate impact when he arrived from Detroit. Instead, a torn ACL and nerve damage in his foot sidelined him for his entire freshman year, forcing him to redshirt and spend the season in recovery.
Robinson, now the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year, said the yearlong rehab process reshaped his understanding of the game and his place in the program.
“It taught me patience,” said Robinson, an international business major. “I had to watch everything from the sideline, but it helped me see the game differently.”
Robinson’s path to Division I soccer began long before Howard. He spent part of high school playing for Sporting Kansas City’s Major League Soccer Academy after his family moved from Michigan to Kansas during his ninth grade year. Training daily in a professional environment gave him early exposure to high-level expectations.
“It made me realize the dream was not far,” Robinson said. “Being in that setting showed me the level I needed to reach.”
When he committed to Howard, he expected the transition to college soccer to be challenging but manageable. His injury changed that timeline. Robinson redshirted, spent months in physical therapy and gradually reintegrated into team activities while adjusting to college.
Senior midfielder and team captain Roman Stallings said Robinson’s approach during his injury made a strong impression on the team.
“He came in as a freshman with an ACL injury, but his mindset stood out,” said Stallings, a finance major from Atlanta. “He showed up to everything, never made excuses and stayed locked in even when he could not play.”
Despite not playing, Robinson said the year allowed him to learn the team’s culture, which he described as disciplined, young and focused on long-term growth.
Howard’s roster is one of the youngest in the conference, and players cite accountability and team chemistry as core strengths.
This season, Robinson and sophomore forward Daniil Kaban were both selected to the All-NEC Second Team, marking a step for the program’s young core.
“Naim came in recovering from a serious knee injury, but his work ethic stood out from day one,” said Kaban, a finance and computer information systems major. “Even before he was cleared, he stayed after sessions and did everything he could. That discipline is why he made such a big impact this year.”
When Robinson returned to the field this season, he stepped into an entirely new assignment. Once a winger during his academy years, he shifted into a box-to-box midfield role that demanded constant awareness, mobility and presence on both sides of the ball.
The position required him to read the field, cover large pockets of space and drive possessions forward while also contributing defensively.
The adjustment tested him early.
“I had turnovers and was still learning the position,” Robinson said. “But film sessions and talking with coaches helped me adjust.”
The shift paid off. Robinson became a consistent presence in Howard’s midfield, contributing to the team’s possession, transition play and late-season improvement.
Howard finished the season with five wins, including three in conference play, marking a clear step forward in both results and competitiveness.
Stallings said Robinson’s spring return set the tone for the year.
“When he finally got on the field in the spring, you could tell right away he was one of the best players out there,” Stallings said. “He put in the work, stayed committed and came back ready.”
A key moment for the team, Robinson said, came during a conference win over Central Connecticut State University. The result kept Howard alive in the standings and strengthened the group’s confidence.
“That game showed us we could control our fate,” Robinson said.
As his performance continued to rise, Robinson drew attention across the NEC. By season’s end, conference coaches voted him Rookie of the Year, an honor he said reflected the team’s growth as much as his own.
“It is good recognition, but it does not change the work,” Robinson said.
Robinson’s aspirations for next season include reaching double-digit goals and assists, earning All-NEC First Team honors and helping Howard secure a berth in the conference tournament.
“We always knew he had talent from his MLS academy days,” Kaban said. “Rookie of the Year is just the start for him. He has not reached his full potential yet, and we expect him to keep moving upward.”
Stallings said Robinson’s development positions him for a larger leadership role.
“He fit in immediately. He is likable, energetic and dependable, and younger players looked to him,” Stallings said. “I think his success will help recruiting and put him in a bigger leadership role next season.”
Robinson also hopes his success highlights what Howard offers student-athletes, particularly those coming from MLS Next or academy systems.
“This is the only Division I Historically Black College and University [HBCU] with men’s soccer,” he said. “There is a real culture here, and coaches care about you as a person and a player.”
For Howard, Robinson’s return and his conference recognition signal continued progress for a rebuilding program with a young core returning next season.
“It is just the beginning,” Robinson said.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
