Rookie Profile: Bijan Robinson

Bijan Robinson - RB - Texas

Listed Measurables:

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 215 lbs

Arms: 31 1/8"

Hands: 9 3/4"

Draft Age: 21.0 Y/O

Early Declare: Yes

Breakout Age: 18.9

BMI: 30.1

2023 NFL Combine Grades:

40-Yard Dash: 4.46s

10-Yard Split: 1.52s

Vertical Jump: 37"

Broad Jump: 10’4"

3 Cone Drill: N/A

20 Yd Shuttle: N/A

Bench Press: N/A

Career Notes:

Tim Warner/Getty Images

Bijan Robinson spent his formative football years attending Salpointe Catholic High School in his hometown of Tucson, Arizona, where he posted three consecutive seasons with over 2000 all-purpose yards. Robinson currently holds the all-time Arizona state record for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns (7036 RSH YDS/114 RSH TDS). In his final season as a high school senior, Robinson recorded astronomical stats, rushing 126 times for 2235 yards (17.7 YPC) and 38 touchdowns en route to being named the Arizona Gatorade Football Player of the Year. He was selected to play in the 2020 All-American Bowl, solidifying his 5-star recruit rating as the number one running back recruit in the country. Robinson would receive over 50 high-profile scholarship offers, deciding to leave the state and commit to the Texas Longhorns.

Accolades:

• 5 Star Recruit (24/7 Sports)

• #1 Running Back Recruit (Class of 2020)

• 2× First Team All-Big 12 (2021, 2022)

• Unanimous All-American (2022)

• Doak Walker Award (2022)

• Top-10 in Heisman Voting (2022)

• Aloma Bowl MVP (2020)

• 18 100(+)Yard Games

• Holds school record for YPC (8.2) in a single season (2020)

• Ranks 3rd all-time in Texas Program history with 33 Rushing Touchdowns

• Ranks fourth all-time in Texas program history with 3410 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns (33 RSH TD/8 REC TD)

Past Production/Collegiate Career:

It wouldn’t take long for Robinson to continue his long history of dominating opposing defenses despite the step up in competition. In 2020, as a true freshman, the superstar rusher led Texas with 703 rushing yards, setting a program record by averaging 8.2 YPC on 86 rush attempts. The dual-threat dynamo also flashed his intangible upside as a receiving threat, hauling in 15 receptions for 196 yards (13.1 YPR) and two touchdowns.

As a sophomore in 2021, Robinson received first-team All-Big 12 honors by smashing through would-be-tacklers for 1127 yards and 11 touchdowns on 195 carries (5.7 YPC), ranking 8th in the nation with 142.2 scrimmage yards per game.

The 2022 season would serve as Robinson’s magnum opus to an already impressive analytical profile. The soon-to-be first-round NFL Draft pick was recognized with the Doak Walker award as the NCAA’s top running back while also garnering praise as a first-team Associated Press All-American and All-Big 12 Team selection. Robinson rounded out his collegiate career with 1580 rushing yards on 258 attempts (6.1 YPC) with 18 rushing touchdowns, 19 receptions, 314 receiving yards (16.5 YPR) and two receiving touchdowns.

Robinson would wisely opt out of Texas’ final Bowl Game, declaring early for the NFL Draft.

Stats to Know:

• Averaged 4.1 yards after contact per attempt.

• Generated 2370 total yards after contact across three seasons at Texas.

• Leads all 2023 NFL Draft eligible running backs with 212 avoided tackles and a 162.2 Elusive rating per PFF.

• Accumulated 13.7% of Texas Receiving Touchdowns as a 19-year-old Sophomore, averaging 1.0 RY/TPA and 1.63 YPRR.

2020 Stats:

9 GP

86 CAR

23.8% RSH Share

703 YDS (4 TD)

8.2 YPC

36.0% RSH YDS Share

0.99 RSH YDS/TA

15 REC

7.2% REC Share

17 TGT

4.9% TGT Share

196 YDS (2 TD)

0.56 RY/TPA 

9.4% REC YDS Share

13.1 YPR

6.2% REC TD Share

101 Touches

899 Scrimmage Yards (6 Total TD)

8.9 YPT

18.9% Total OFF. YDS Share

11.5% Total OFF. TDS Share

99.9 Scrimmage YPG

2021 Stats:

10 GP

195 CAR

55.2% RSH Share

1127 YDS (2 TD)

5.8 YPC

47.1% RSH YDS Share

1.61 RSH YDS/TA

26 REC

11.98% REC Share

31 TGT

8.9% TGT Share

295 YDS (4 TD)

0.85 RY/TPA

10.9% REC YDS Share

11.3 YPR

13.7% REC TD Share

221 Touches

1422 Scrimmage Yards (15 Total TD)

6.4 YPT

27.9% Total OFF. YDS Share

27.7% Total OFF. TDS Share

142.2 Scrimmage YPG

2022 Stats:

12 GP

258 CAR

55.6% RSH Share

1580 YDS (18 TD)

6.1 YPC

64.2% RSH YDS Share

1.81 RSH YDS/TA

19 REC

7.6% REC Share

29 TGT

9.5% TGT Share

314 YDS (2 TD)

0.77 RY/TPA

10.0% REC YDS Share

16.5 YPR

8.7% REC TD Share

277 Touches

1894 Scrimmage Yards (15 Total TD)

6.8 YPT

33.8% Total OFF. YDS Share

39.2% Total OFF. TDS Share

157.3 Scrimmage YPG

Collegiate Career Totals:

31 GP

539 RSH

45.67% RSH Share

3410 YDS (33 TD)

6.3 YPC

60 REC

77 TGT

7.0% TGT Share

805 YDS (8 TD)

13.4 YPR

1.4 YPRR

543 Routes

3.9% Slot Rate

7.6% Wide Rate

599 Touches

4215 Scrimmage Yards (42 Total TD)

7.0 YPT

135.96 YPG

162.2 Elusive Rating

Collegiate Career Bests:

258 CAR

55.6% RSH Share

1580 YDS (20 TD)

8.2 YPC

64.2% RSH YDS Share

1.81 RSH YDS/TA

19 REC

7.6% REC Share

29 TGT

9.5% TGT Share

314 YDS (2 TD)

10.0% REC YDS Share

16.5 YPR

13.7% REC TD Share

277 Touches

1894 Scrimmage Yards (15 Total TD)

6.8 YPT

33.8% Total OFF. YDS Share

39.2% Total OFF. TDS Share

157.3 Scrimmage YPG

Scouting Report:

NFL Draft Grade: 6.84 (Year One Starter)

Next-Gen Draft Grade: 96 (Elite)

Scouting Strengths:

NBC Sports

• Brings a full menu of elite moves to the table with the ability to feast as a 3-down workhorse.

• Aggressive through contact with excellent balance. Can meet a defender head-on or give him the work and elude the tackler.

• Robinson has better vision than an eye doctor.

• Won’t go down easy, fights for every inch and needs an army of tacklers to deter him from gaining extra yardage.

• All-Around and Above-Replacement at every single facet.

• Boasts plus athleticism in all categories.

• Can remain on the field for every play in any down or situation.

Scouting Weaknesses:

• He has good speed but not elite burner speed.

• Can be a little too patient at times when facing a stacked line of scrimmage.

• Has recorded more than a few body catches, however, he still possesses great hands.

• Terrific agility but uses a lot of wasted movement when he could turn up the field with open lanes.

• An above-average receiver but gets falsely labeled as a truly elite pass-catcher.

• Needs to let his blockers work for him rather than attempting to force his way through tight gaps.

Expected Draft Capital:

• Projected Round: 1st

• EDP: 10.2

• Consensus Position Rank: RB1

Perfect Fit/Landing Spot:

Los Angeles Chargers

Philadelphia Eagles

Cincinnati Bengals

Consensus Landing Spot:

Philadelphia Eagles

Top NFL Player Comparisons:

Breece Hall

Christian McCaffrey 

Dalvin Cook

Samaje Perine

Joe Mixon

Kenneth Dixon

Todd Gurley

LeSean McCoy

Darren McFadden

DeAngelo Williams

Adrian Peterson

Steven Jackson

*All Comparisons subject to change with NFL Draft capital and landing spot

Future NFL/Fantasy Outlook:

Bijan Robinson is undeniably the dead-to-rights RB1 overall on the dynasty market. The Doak Walker Award winner has accumulated three consecutive years of top-end production in college, smashing through analytic models and Big 12 defenses as a bonafide superstar before he ever steps foot on an NFL field. RB1 Overall in both production and value is a highly likely outcome for Robinson’s profile. Only one rookie in this draft class is considered a top twelve asset in startup drafts and I am not hesitant to lock him down with the rookie 1.01.

Much respect, thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff.

You can find my other works as the Lead Writer and DOC at BRoto Fantasy Football.

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By Matt Ward