Patrick Peterson vouches for 49ers rookie CB Rashard Robinson

San Francisco 49ers' Rashard Robinson practices during an NFL football rookie minicamp in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, May 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) San Francisco 49ers' Rashard Robinson practices during an NFL football rookie minicamp in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, May 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Patrick Peterson vouches for 49ers rookie CB Rashard Robinson 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

As the Cardinals studied 49ers rookie cornerback Rashard Robinson before this year’s draft, they sought the advice of the person in the organization who knew him best: cornerback Patrick Peterson.

Both Peterson, 25, and Robinson, 20, are from Pompano Beach, Fla., both attended Blanche Ely High and both went to LSU. Due to their age difference, they haven’t been teammates since they were part of the same track club when Robinson was in elementary school, but they have become friends and training partners over the years.

Robinson, whom the 49ers selected in the fourth round, was suspended for failing a drug test and later suspended for academic issues during his sophomore season in 2014. He was dismissed from the team after he was arrested in June for unauthorized entry into the apartment of LSUquarterback Anthony Jennings, but charges weren’t filed because of insufficient evidence.

As a result of Robinson’s past, the Cardinals probed Peterson, an All-Pro also known as a model citizen, about his friend’s character.

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“They asked me questions about Rashard as a person because they already knew what type of player he was,” Peterson said in a phone interview. “They wanted insight into him and I definitely told them how it is. He’s a great person … I did vouch for him. I did put in their ear that he’s a phenomenal player and good person.”

Since he was at LSU, Peterson has invited Robinson to train with him when he’s returned to Pompano Beach. And Peterson, the No. 5 pick in 2011, has shared some of the wisdom that’s helped him become the third player in NFL history to earn five Pro Bowl berths before turning 26.

“I always invited him to come work out with me because the guy is so talented,” Peterson said. “I wanted to make sure that I gave him all the knowledge that he would need to get himself in this position that he’s in today. We always talked about Xs and Os, how to be a pro, how to get better in certain situations. Because some guys can go out there and work out all day, but they’re not getting better at a specific thing.”

Peterson acknowledges the obvious: Robinson could have handled certain situations far better in college.

However, he sees the similarities between Robinson and Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu, a close friend who was dismissed from LSU after his sophomore season for failing multiple drug tests and didn’t play football for a year.

Mathieu, a Heisman Trophy finalist, lived with Peterson’s parents before he was selected in the third round in 2013 and worked out with his dad, Patrick Sr., who is a personal trainer. Robinson has worked out extensively with Peterson’s father over the years.

Mathieu, 24, is now a two-time All-Pro who has also emerged as a thoughtful voice in Arizona’s locker room.

“They definitely have some parallels as far as off-the-field issues,” Peterson said. “And like Ty always says -- you have to make sure you look yourself in mirror because you’re the only one that can really fix it if you want to change things. I think Rashard has done that. I think he’s taken the necessary steps.

“… I think by him sitting out a year -- especially being able to play football all his life and then to have the game taken away from him -- that hurts. I think he learned his lesson. This is his pride and joy. This is what he lives for. I think he realizes that he has something special and he doesn’t want to goof up again.”

Another similarity between Robinson and Mathieu: They possess talent that could have made them first-round picks, if not for concerns about their character.

Peterson sees plenty of himself in Robinson, an aggressive and rangy cornerback who relishes physical man-to-man coverage. An obvious difference is Robinson, who measured 6-1 and 171 pounds at the combine, doesn’t have Peterson’s size (6-1, 219), although Peterson insists he plays bigger.

“He’s probably one of the toughest 170-pound guys I’ve ever seen and been around,” Peterson said. “He’s very confident; he’s very passionate about the game. If he could have kept his act together, done what he was supposed to do as far as playing all three years, not getting in trouble, keeping a clean name, he would have easily been a first- or second-round draft pick.”

Peterson wanted the Cardinals to draft Robinson, but he’s pleased he landed in the NFC West.

“I can’t wait,” he said, “to see him play twice a year.”

Twitter: Eric_Branch