Dorian Thompson-Robinson: The Quarterback's Journey from UCLA to the UFL

Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson, also known as DTR, is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the Orlando Storm of the United Football League (UFL). His journey through football has been marked by notable achievements at UCLA and a foray into the NFL.

Early Life and High School Career

Thompson-Robinson was born on November 14, 1999, in Columbia, South Carolina. During that time, his mother was pursuing her doctorate at the University of South Carolina. He later attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he excelled as a four-star recruit. As a senior, Thompson-Robinson passed for 3,275 yards and 38 touchdowns, while also rushing for 426 yards and 7 touchdowns.

College Career at UCLA

Freshman Season (2018)

Thompson-Robinson began his college career at UCLA in 2018, seeing action in ten games. He started seven of those games, gaining valuable experience as a true freshman. In a 31-24 loss to No. 10 Washington, Thompson-Robinson showcased his potential.

Sophomore Season (2019)

In 2019, Thompson-Robinson became the starting quarterback for the Bruins. He started 11 of the 12 games that season, only missing the Oregon State game due to an injury. One of the highlights of his sophomore year was leading the Bruins to a 67-63 comeback victory at No. 19 Washington State. In that game, Thompson-Robinson threw for 507 yards and five touchdowns, adding 57 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His 564 total yards against Washington State set a UCLA record for total offense in a single game. Throughout the 2019 season, Thompson-Robinson accumulated 2,701 passing yards and 198 rushing yards, totaling 2,899 yards of offense-the tenth-most for a UCLA player in a single season.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)

Thompson-Robinson retained his role as the starting quarterback for the 2020 season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the season-opening 48-42 loss at Colorado, Thompson-Robinson completed 20 of 40 passes for 303 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed for 109 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown run. Statistically, Thompson-Robinson demonstrated significant improvement, completing 65.2 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. He added 306 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. In the December 12 matchup against No. 15 USC, Thompson-Robinson completed 83.3 percent of his passes for 364 passing yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, along with 50 rushing yards.

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Senior Seasons (2021-2022)

Thompson-Robinson continued to lead the UCLA Bruins in the following seasons, demonstrating his leadership and skill. In the 2022 season opener against Bowling Green, he completed 32 of 43 passes for 298 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

NFL Career

Cleveland Browns (2023)

Thompson-Robinson was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2023 NFL Draft. He made his regular-season debut on October 1, when Deshaun Watson was ruled out due to a shoulder injury. Named the 35th starting quarterback for the Browns since their return to the league in 1999, Thompson-Robinson completed 19 of 36 passes for 121 yards and three interceptions in a 28-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was subsequently benched in favor of P. J. Walker.

The following week against the Denver Broncos, Thompson-Robinson threw his first career touchdown pass, a two-yard score to tight end Harrison Bryant. However, he was later forced out of the game after a head injury sustained from a late hit by Baron Browning. After clearing concussion protocol, he was reverted to the backup role when Joe Flacco was announced as the team's starter. In Week 16, Thompson-Robinson briefly appeared during garbage time against the Houston Texans and injured his hip, leading to him being placed on injured reserve.

Thompson-Robinson began the 2024 season as the third-string quarterback for the Browns. He appeared in a regular-season game on October 20, after Deshaun Watson suffered an Achilles injury.

Transitions and UFL Opportunity (2026)

In a series of roster moves, Thompson-Robinson was involved in transactions between NFL teams before finding an opportunity in the UFL. Ultimately, Dorian Thompson-Robinson was selected by the Orlando Storm of the UFL.

Personal Life

Thompson-Robinson's parents are Michael Robinson and Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson, a public health professor at UNLV.

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