Marvin Robinson grew up a USC fan in the heart of Florida Gator country, but the first time he laid eyes on Michigan it was over.

The Lake Region (Fla.) High School safety/receiver attended Michigan football camp along with his brother, Jonathan Lewis, and 3 teammates the summer after his freshman year of high school. One of the camp’s standout performers, Robinson was invited to then-coach Lloyd Carr’s office, where he received his first scholarship offer.

“You’re a 16-year-old kid and a storied program like Michigan comes along and a coach with his reputation, a big-time coach brings you in his office and talks to you, I think as a young man you don’t forget that,” Lake Region coach Steve Reynolds said. “It leaves a lasting impression.”

When Carr retired, Rich Rodriguez renewed Robinson’s scholarship offer, and last fall Robinson gave the Wolverines a silent commitment.

Next month, he’ll join several other early enrollees as the first official members of Michigan’s 2010 recruiting class.

The Wolverines are expected to sign a full compliment of 25 players. Players can sign letters of intent on Feb. 3.

“I’m looking forward to” getting on campus, Robinson said.

Robinson, who’ll play free safety for the Wolverines, said he started planning for an early graduation last year.

He took 3 classes over the summer, English and world history courses at a local adult-education school and a Spanish class online, and will officially graduate Jan. 4. Classes at Michigan start 2 days later.

To help his transition to college, Robinson said his parents, Marvin and Everlene, plan to move to Michigan sometime this spring. His brother, who played linebacker at Iowa Central Community College, may transfer to Eastern Michigan.

“It’s worth it” to enroll early, Robinson said. “To start working out with the team and learning the system and everything, basically get acquainted with the other players that’s already on the team. It’s a big advantage.”

For Robinson, it’s also an opportunity to get back to playing football.

He pulled a groin muscle in the second game of Lake Region's season, when he turned a wide receiver screen into a long touchdown pass, and he missed most of the year.

Despite the injury, Robinson, who will be eligible to take part in spring practice, remained a hot commodity on the recruiting trail. North Carolina, Georgia and Florida are among the schools that showed recent interest, and Robinson said Florida coach Urban Meyer called “I think it was last week.”

As tempting as the other offers were, Robinson said the opportunity to be a Wolverine was too good to pass up.

“If I come in and do what I do best, work hard, I have a pretty good chance of being a starter and making an impact," he said.

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.