Greg Robinson

NFL draft prospect Greg Robinson, left, an offensive tackle from Auburn University, gestures as he visits the Sept. 11 memorial in New York, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

(Kathy Willens)

NEW YORK

-- Back in 2012, before

Greg Robinson

's father,

Greg Blackledge

, died, father and son had a tough conversation.

Blackledge told his son he needed to provide for his mother, Rhonda, and his two sisters in Louisiana, a family that has been put through the ringer, first forced to relocate to Houston due to Hurricane Katrina and then Blackledge's death at age 54.

Then Blackledge told his son to stay strong and be there for the family. Now, with Robinson on the verge of becoming a top-5 pick in tonight's NFL Draft, which begins at 7 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall, the son is about to be able to provide for his entire family.

"Actually, it was just my time to step up," Robinson said. "I knew it could be a positive thing or a negative thing, and my family, they needed me there. It was something that I just took upon myself."

When Robinson lost his father, he hadn't even played in a college game yet. A highly-touted offensive line prospect coming out of high school, Robinson didn't feel ready to handle both football and the transition to college life.

And then Robinson had to begin providing for his family. At certain points in college, Robinson had to send some of his scholarship money home to help out his mother, Rhonda, and his grandmother, who has been in the hospital recently.

A lot of kids would have struggled in that situation. Robinson met the challenge head-on.

"Greg was a mature player even when we were recruiting him," Auburn head coach

Gus Malzahn

said. "He's a little bit different that way. He's very grounded, he knows what he wants, he's a hard worker, he allows you to coach him, and his best days are ahead of him."

For all of those reasons, it means everything in the world that Robinson's mother and grandmother are with him in New York this week, taking in the sights as Robinson gets a walking tour of the Big Apple.

"My mom's never even flown," Robinson said.

Robinson even appeared on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday.

All the attention is a little bit different for Rhonda.

"It's probably been something that she's not used to, because in college, she saw me doing it, but my name wasn't flaunted around like it is to," Robinson said. "It's new for her, but she's learned to take it and be proud of her son."

As excited as Robinson has been to get his time on the big stage this week, the big left tackle will also feel a sense of relief when his name is called on Thursday night.

NFL draft prospect Greg Robinson, left, an offensive tackle from Auburn University, talks with fellow members of the 2014 NFL Draft class in front of the south reflecting pool during a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

All of the attention and the cross-country flights to visit teams and the constant presence of his name on ESPN has taken a little bit of a toll.

Robinson, who has already started picking the brains of NFL players, is ready to get back to football.

"It's been fun, I've just been trying to enjoy it as it goes," Robinson said. "Some of the things are maybe a little overwhelming."

All of that will be forgotten when NFL commissioner

Roger Goodell

says Robinson's name.

From this point on, Robinson doesn't have to worry about being his family's provider any more.