INDIANAPOLIS -- The look happened not by design, but by accident. A'Shawn Robinson is already imposing at 6-foot-4, 312 pounds. But he knows the beard and bald head combination adds another layer. At least he hopes so.
The Alabama defensive lineman, projected as a first-round pick, has size, strength and power. His beard isn't too shabby; in fact, it's impressive.
But Robinson said it started for a simple reason: He was going bald.
"It wasn't an intimidation thing," he said. "I got into college and I was going bald and it was time to shave."
Next came the decision to grow the beard.
"I don't smile too often, so people are like, 'That dude looks old. He looks like he's about 40 years old,' " Robinson said. "So I was like, OK, I like it. It builds me up so it's cool looking that old."
The Washington Redskins have met with Robinson and he could be available to them at No. 21. They hope it's his play, not his beard, that eventually jumps out.