"They Just Bounce off Sometimes." - Roderick Robinson is Ready for a Big 2024

Georgia has a loaded running back depth chart heading into 2024, but none of the backs are built quite like Roderick Robinson.

As Georgia prepares for spring practice to commence, one of the biggest question marks is centered on the running back position. Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton are off to the NFL, leaving a wide-open race to start for a deep depth chart.

Roderick Robinson, the 240-pound sophomore from San Diego, California, is certainly one of the guys competing for those carries. Robinson is Georgia's leading returning rusher (196 yards - 2 TD in 2023) but he'll have to compete with Florida transfer Trevor Etienne. Robinson spoke on that competition during a recent episode of the Players' Lounge with Aaron Murray.

Sep 9, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Roderick Robinson II (0) runs past Ball State Cardinals linebacker Keiont Newson (9) to score a touchdown against the Ball State Cardinals during the second half at Sanford Stadium / © Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

"I mean, I feel like you know, to be the best you got to play with the best as well. I just feel like it's gonna elevate all of our game at the same time and we're all just gonna get better from it."

Robinson and Etienne bring different skill sets to the job. While Etienne is a do-it-all back, Robinson currently falls into the "power back" role at 240 pounds. For him, his size can be a blessing and a curse.

"I'll start with the cons, like you know, of course, everybody always wants to go low on you but at the same time, I look at that as a pro because most of the time I already know where the defenders going. It just helps me counter their tackle a lot easier. A pro is like you know, it's hard to be tackled most of the time you know, if I just run like they just bounce off sometimes. Most dudes, and especially in like growing up, they wouldn't want to tackle me so they just stand out the way and I feel like there are more pros than cons, especially with my athleticism, it kinda just balances out."

As he heads into his second season in Athens, Robinson is looking to build on his consistency, leaning on the coaching from offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and his position coach Dell McGee.

"I just want to make sure that I'm stacking days and being consistent. So consistency, you know, is one of the best abilities a person can have. And I just feel like if I go out there and consistently show and do what I know I can do and what everybody else in the program knows that we all can do, I feel like that should be a pivotal piece in our offense."

Speaking of McGee, the long-time Georgia assistant is rumored to be one of the candidates for the vacant Georgia State job. Robinson shared some of the impact McGee has had on him at Georgia.

"It's been amazing. It's been great. He teaches us so much, just outside of straight, you know, get the ball and run you know, one of my biggest things was learning offensive blocking schemes and everything. He really got me in on that. And just teaching me like the physical aspect of the game. And it's like a lot more mental to it. So he definitely helped me coach up on that a lot. And I just feel like he's taught me so many things outside of football, that like, I get to look at him as a father figure.