KSR 2022 NFL Draft Profile: Wan'Dale Robinson

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The draft circuit is almost complete as NFL organizations host some last-second visits this week before the NFL Draft arrives. The pre-draft season is all but over and all that is left is the three-day mega-event in Las Vegas from April 28-30.

For the Kentucky football program, the Wildcats should be very involved at the draft this season. Through seven rounds, we could see as many as seven players hear their names at the NFL Draft. After being there every step of the way — combine, pro day — during the process, KSR is here to get you ready for the draft.

Before our yearly draft guide publishes next week, we’ll be dropping profiles on all of the expected Kentucky draft picks in the meantime to get geared up for the event. First up is a transfer wide receiver who made an immediate impact for the Wildcats in 2021.

Player: Wan’Dale Robinson

Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 178 pounds
Arm: 27 7/8 inches
Hand: 9 1/8 inches
Wingspan: 67 3/4 inches
40-yard dash: 4.44 seconds
Vertical: 35 inches
3-cone: 6.99 seconds
Short shuttle: 4.13 seconds
Bench press: 19 reps

The full RAS testing chart shows a receiver with an elite speed score, but the size is a major concern.

College Production

2019 (Nebraska): 10 games, 4 starts, 40 receptions for 453 yards and 2 touchdowns, 88 rushes for 340 yards and 3 touchdowns
2020 (Nebraska): 8 games, 8 starts, 51 receptions for 461 yards and 1 touchdown, 46 rushes for 240 yards and 1 touchdown
2021 (Kentucky): 13 games, 13 starts, 104 receptions for 1,334 yards and 7 touchdowns, 7 rushes for 111 yards

Background

Wan’Dale Robinson was the highest-ranked player in Kentucky during the 2019 recruiting class, and the Frankfort (Ky.) Western Hills star had plenty of interest on the recruiting trail. During his prep career, the multi-purpose athlete would collect nearly 9,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 118 touchdowns making an impact on the game as a rusher, receiver, and kick returner. Robinson also starred on defense and would bring home the Kentucky Mr. Football award as a senior.

As a recruit, Wan’Dale Robinson quickly blew up on the camp circuit as the versatile player possessed great short-area burst with the ability to create easy separation and make catches from multiple angles. Some big schools got involved as Robinson took visits to Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan before Kentucky and Nebraska became the top two schools in the recruitment.

Nebraska had just hired UCF head coach Scott Frost, and there was a lot of buzz surrounding the Huskers. Despite a losing campaign in 2018, Nebraska had a young quarterback and an offensive system to sell. Meanwhile, Kentucky was a run-first and run-second attack under offensive coordinator Eddie Gran that leaned on ball control and defense to win games. After initially committing to his home state school on Nov. 1 during his senior year, Robinson backed off that pledge one month later and flipped to Nebraska on Dec. 5.

The top-100 prospect was the first major recruiting win for Frost, and he was used immediately. However, injuries meant Nebraska needed more help at running back, and that’s where Robinson was mainly utilized. After two seasons saw the slot receiver log 134 rushing attempts that ultimately led to some injuries, Robinson decided to go to an offense that would feature him only as a receiver.

Kentucky provided that landing spot as the Wildcats installed a version of the Sean McVay offense under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen.

During Kentucky’s breakthrough 10-3 season where the Wildcats fielded a top-25 offense for the first time since 2007, Robinson carried the passing offense playing primarily out of the slot. The transfer finished the season with a 71.2 percent catch rate on 146 targets as Robinson set the single-season program record for receptions.

Soon after the season, Robinson announced that he would be declaring for the draft after just three years in college.

Scouting Report

54.1% receiving success rate on 146 targets in 2021
19.9% explosive catch rate
45.2% first down/touchdown rate

When you turn on the tape, Wan’Dale Robinson plays much bigger than your typical 5-foot-8 receiver. With the ball in his hands, Robinson is explosive in space with an excellent dead leg move that often allows him to create space from defenders in those open-field situations. Upon contact, Robinson does a good job absorbing blows and can oftentimes fall forward to collect extra yards. In the passing game, Robinson’s short-area quickness out of breaks allows him to create separation and that often makes him a tough cover both in-breaking and out-breaking concepts.

Wan'dale Robinson is ELECTRIC ⚡️ @UKFootball pic.twitter.com/Pb3C7ru7bM
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 2, 2021

However, Robinson is positionally limited as his size and lack of arm length make him a likely slot-only wideout at the next level. The wideout did not show much as a returner and is not the sharpest route-runner at the moment. There is a lack of vertical speed as Robinson was not a field stretcher in college and was caught from behind on a handful of big plays.

With plus athleticism to go along with short-area burst and football instincts, Robinson can be a solid option for an NFL offense out the slot, but windows could be smaller for quarterbacks at the next level due to the sheer lack of size for the receiver.

Draft Window

Mel Kiper Jr./Todd McShay (ESPN) Mock: 3rd round

Dane Brugler (The Athletic) Grade: 3rd-4th round

Thor Nystrom (NBC) Mock: 3rd round

At this point, the expectation should be for Wan’Dale Robinson to come off the board in the third round. The size concerns are legitimate, and there isn’t the vertical field-stretching speed. Yet, the wideout checks nearly every other box. The slot receiver can play through contact and make plays in space. It is easy to envision Robinson being a productive weapon on a good NFL offense.

If a team falls in love and there’s an early run on wideouts, don’t be surprised if the All-SEC performer comes off the board at the end of round two.