Bijan Robinson ready for increased workload ahead of sophomore season

On3 imageby:Joe Cook08/13/21

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Coming out of Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic High School, Texas running back Bijan Robinson was rated as one of the top 25 players in the country by the major recruiting services. Several ranked him as a five-star prospect and the No. 1 running back in the 2020 class.

Those five-star ratings came with good reason. Robinson rushed for over 2000 yards in his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons for the Lancers and scored over 100 touchdowns in one of the greatest prep careers in Arizona history.

His freshman year at Texas saw him touch the ball a total of 102 times in nine games. It was dotted with peculiar coaching decisions that saw him go long stretches without the ball or even on the field, including Texas’ dominating win in the Alamo Bowl.

Expect that to change under new head coach Steve Sarkisian in 2021, who believes that in most cases Robinson should see around 20 touches per game.

“Every game takes on a life of its own, but if we can put a ballpark in that 18 to 22 range, roughly 20 touches a game, that puts us in a good position I think as a team, as an offense,” Sarkisian said on August 5. “And that still allows opportunity for other players to do what they want to do and what they can do to help our team.”

Sarkisian understands the talent he has available to him in his bell-cow back. He also understands sometimes players need to see snaps and receive carries to get into a rhythm, even if some of those carries don’t break open for big gains.

“Those really good ones, it only takes one, and then it’s two, and then it’s three,” Sarkisian said. “Next thing you know, he’s got 15 carries for 140 yards. You have to give those really good players those opportunities to feel runs, to assess it.”

Robinson’s career-high for touches in a single came against Iowa State last year, when he had 16 carries for 54 yards and a single reception for three yards. It was the only contest he touched the ball over 15 times.

In 2021, Robinson is likely to have at least that many touches in every game. It’s a new challenge for Robinson, but like nearly everything that is sent his way, he’ll take on those extra opportunities with a smile and belief in his offseason efforts to prepare for the increased workload.

“If games like that do come, I’ll be ready for it and nothing will get in the way of that,” Robinson said Thursday. “We strive a lot on straining and straining as a team, straining as players so when opportunities like that do come we’ll be ready for it.”

Robinson said he watches plenty of highlights of players at the next level. He mentioned Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook and New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara as players he enjoys seeing make plays. Both of those players factor into their respective offenses’ passing game. Of note, Sarkisian mentioned touches when referring to Robinson and not just carries.

“I feel that I can use my skill set to do a lot of different things in this offense, whether it’s lining up at receiver, running routes out of the backfield just like how they do,” Robinson said.

Whenever he gets the ball in practice, it’s a challenge for the Longhorn defense to bring him down. Keondre Coburn spoke at media days about how difficult it is to corral No. 5. On Thursday, he reiterated that notion, joking that a 15-yard penalty might be worth it if it means preventing Robinson from advancing.

“You have to make sure he’s down,” Coburn said. “Literally, you have to make sure he is down. I don’t care if he is down, still push him and make sure, take that flag.”

‘This dude never runs out of energy’

His teammates and coaches rave about his on-field play. They almost rave just as much about the type of person Robinson is off the field. He is constantly characterized as a great man who is a positive influence on others.

“He’s an incredible human being all the way around,” Casey Thompson said Wednesday. “He’s well-rounded. He’s a phenomenal athlete. He’s a great person. He’s very optimistic. He’s very positive. He’s uplifting. He’s very selfless. He does a good job of encouraging everyone around him. He has this positive aura about him that makes you want to be around him.”

“He’s probably even a better person than he is a player,” Hudson Card added Wednesday.

That positive aura does make its way onto the field, too. Robinson, a 6-foot-0, 214-pounder, averaged a school-record 8.2 yards per carry last season. He likely averaged at least one grin per carry, too.

“This dude never runs out of energy, and he smiles when he runs the ball,” Coburn said Thursday. “It’s kind of weird, but he does it.”

High expectations have been placed upon Robinson, whether from himself, his coaches, or Longhorn fans. Robinson is looking forward to the opportunity to show he can handle all of those expectations on the way to helping his team.

“I just thank God every day that I’m here even on this field playing,” Robinson said. “I just want to be the best player I can for my team.”

Cover photo by Will Gallgher for Inside Texas

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