Robinson was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1922. He played football for the Michigan Wolverines football teams as a halfback in 1941, 1942, and 1946. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1947. On October 11, 1941, Robinson scored a touchdown in a 40-0 victory over the Pitt Panthers on his first carry as a college football player. The Michiganensian reported: "In this game the spectators got their initial glimpse of triple-threat Don Robinson who in his first running attempt in collegiate competition shook off two would-be tacklers and scored the fifth Michigan marker of the afternoon." In a 1942 victory over Notre Dame, Robinson was the holder on a fake field goal attempt. After the snap, "Robinson arose from his crouch and swirled around his left attend for a touchdown."