Mississippi State RB Josh Robinson entering NFL draft

Mississippi State running back Josh Robinson will skip his senior season and declare for the NFL draft. Robinson, 22, carried the ball 177 times for 1,128 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season as the team's starter.

Mississippi State running back Josh Robinson will skip his senior season and declare for the NFL draft, ESPN's Edward Aschoff reports.

Robinson, 22, carried the ball 177 times for 1,128 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season as a starter this year. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound running back rushed for a career-high 198 yards against Kentucky in October, but has not surpassed 64 yards in his last five games.

Robinson, a second-team All-SEC selection, told Aschoff that he is on track to graduate.

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“I came through with my plan. I’m going to graduate; I had a great year; and I knew that was all going to happen,” Robinson said. “I just want to count my chips and give thanks to the Bulldog fans, [athletic director] Scott Stricklin, [school president] Dr. [Mark] Keenum and coach [Dan] Mullen for letting me lead the program, and do what I do."

“It’s time to put my feet in the water and show the NFL what I do. I changed the game coming into high school and college, and now it’s time to change the game in the NFL.” 

Robinson and the Bulldogs finished the regular season 10-2. They will play Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.

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- Paul Palladino