NFL Draft Profile: Brian Robinson Jr., Running Back, Alabama Crimson Tide
#4
Pos: RB
Ht: 6020
Wt: 225
Hand: 0968
Arm: 3178
Wing: 7738
40: 4.53
Vertical: 30
Broad Jump: 911
DOB: 3/22/99
Eligible: 2022
Tuscaloosa, AL
Hillcrest
Brian Robinson Jr.
Alabama Crimson Tide
One-Liners
Power back with very good size and below-average athleticism.
Pros:
Good sized inside runner who is the lead back in a committee. Robinson possesses good vision to read leverage and maintain urgency on zone and gap runs. He finds and exploits holes backside. Above-average contact balance allows him to absorb hits and break poor tackles. He lowers the shoulder and falls forward consistently. Keeping his feet active and churning, Robinson drives piles. His hands are reliable to catch the ball as a check down. Robinson is a good blocker who locates defenders well and is willing to be physical.
Cons:
A below-average athlete, Robinson lacks the speed to exploit openings in the open field or beat linebackers to the corner. He does not possess the explosiveness to hit closing holes hard. Lower body stiffness leads to below-average change of direction skills, preventing him from making defenders miss in the open field or perform hard cuts. An upright runner, Robinson does not break free when wrapped up. He is a poor route runner who does not create separation. His timing on cut blocks if off as he takes out the wrong leg.
Summary:
Power back with very good size who possesses below-average speed and is a good pass blocker. Robinson has good vision and plays urgently with active feet. His lack of explosiveness and lower body stiffness limits his ability to generate explosive gains and make defenders miss. Robinson projects as a depth piece or practice squad running back. He can get on the field as a blocker and special teamer. His lack of athleticism limits his ability to earn a high number of carries.
Background:
Robinson Jr. attended Hillcrest high school in Alabama where he rushed for 990 yards on 161 attempts with 18 rushing touchdowns as a senior while adding 24 receptions for 302 yards and two scores. After high school, 247Sports ranked him as a 4-Star recruit, the 145th-best recruit nationally, the 8th-ranked running back recruit in the country and the 6th recruit in the state of Alabama.
Robinson Jr. committed to Alabama over Auburn, Georgia and Ole Miss. In 2017, his true freshman season, he played a minimal role and was mainly a short-yardage back as he finished with 24 rushes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in six games. In 2018, he appeared in nine games and finished with 63 carries for 273 yards and two touchdowns. In 2019, he appeared in all 13 games, still in a rotational role and finished with 96 carries for 441 yards and five touchdowns. In 2020, he appeared in all 13 games and finished with 91 carries for 483 yards and six touchdowns. In 2021, with Najee Harris in the NFL, Robinson Jr. emerged as the starter for the Crimson Tide for the first time in his career. He started all 13 games and finished with 248 carries for 1268 yards and 14 touchdowns plus added 32 catches for 268 yards and another two scores.
Robinson Jr. maintaining a rotational role isn’t quite a slight to him, as he’s backed up productive NFL running backs such as Damien Harris and Najee Harris. Robinson Jr. never took it as a slight and instead did everything he could to learn from them, “I really just learned just the work process. Just how we need to go about working every single day to get what we want. Being beside those guys, just seeing them work hard every day and create opportunities for themselves on NFL rosters as they are right now, I just use that as motivation for me.” Head coach Nick Saban knows just how hard Robinson Jr. has worked to deserve his 2021 breakout season, “B-Rob has always been a hard worker. He's always been a tough guy. He's really shown a lot of perseverance in doing those things and not getting tremendous reward for it, because he's never really had an opportunity to be the man. But I think based on what he's invested in the program, what he's done and the production that he's had when he has played, he certainly deserves that opportunity. And I think he's taking advantage of it right now.”
Grades
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
6.5 / 7.0
Latest News
2/3/22 - Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. detailed how Alabama prepared him for the NFL, “Since day one, coming in with all those great players who eventually turned themselves into the NFL as high draft picks. Just building confidence in myself, competing against those guys all day. Watching those guys go off to the next level and have great success. Having the opportunity to compete with those guys, just helps you build confidence to know that you have the ability to compete among the best and you just always want to stand out.” Additionally, Robinson Jr. was asked how the practices at the Senior Bowl have compared to the practices at Alabama, “Pretty similar to the physicality, speed, enthusiasm. Practice at Alabama is routine. We’ve got to show up every day. It’s more physical, more periods, more time just put into it.”
-Redshirt senior Brian Robinson has been in the room with elite running back talent for years. Now, he has the best chance he’s had while in Tuscaloosa to be the lead back. He rushed for six touchdowns in 2020 while playing behind Harris, Alabama’s all-time leader in touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and rushing yards. But just because Robinson has waited patiently for this opportunity doesn’t mean he is guaranteed most of the work. He is joined by some talented young backs, such as sophomores Roydell Williams and Jase McClellan. Incoming five-star freshman Camar Wheaton could also receive some carries. Redshirt sophomore Trey Sanders, who’s recovering from an injury suffered in a November car accident, could also contribute if healthy. Even with some recent transfers, this group remains one of Alabama’s deepest. (Tuscaloosa News) (06/14/21)
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