The Lineage
The University of Texas is known for producing some great entertainers, i.e. Matthew McConaughey. But perhaps the most legendary Longhorns are the strong lineage of ballcarriers. In the 1970’s, it was Earl Campbell, the HOF bruiser for the Houston Oilers. In the 1990’s, you had Miami Dolphin Pro Bowler Ricky Williams. And, finally, in the early 2000’s there were Jamaal Charles and Cedric Benson. Quite possibly the newest legend is just a draft pick away come April.
High School and NCAA Recruitment
Bijan Robinson was born and raised in the Tuscon, Arizona area. Robinson was a standout in JV and made the varsity roster at Salpointe Catholic as a freshman. Over four seasons, he would rush for over 7,000 yards and 100 TDs. In 2020, he was selected to the Army All-American Bowl. Robinson committed to Texas as their first five-star running back since Malcolm Brown. He was promised a large amount of carries as a freshman, and he did not disappoint.
College Success
In 2020, Robinson exploded onto the scene rushing for over 700 yards and six touchdowns. But his standout moment was his Alamo Bowl’s 180 yards. As a sophomore, Robinson ran for over 1,000 yards and 11 TDs while catching 4 more touchdowns. These numbers earned him a well-deserved Heisman finalist spot, but he was beat out by Bryce Young and Aiden Hutchinson. Robinson’s junior season was his best, as he rushed for 1,500 yards and 18 TDs. For his efforts in 2021 and 2022, he earned All-American honors and All-Big 12 Team recognition.
Tale of the Tape
On film, Robinson demonstrates many desirable traits for a modern-day running back. He reminds me of Priest Holmes in the way that he can break tackles and move with great agility and speed. Robinson also has a great receiving ability, but it’s doubtful he will be asked to do that much in the pros. Potentially, Robinson is day-one NFL success by his physicality and athletic prowess alone. Running backs aren’t necessarily a big priority in today’s NFL, (with the exception of generational talents such as Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffery). However, Robinson could go mid to late first-round selection.
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