'Exactly Who I Thought He Was!' Bijan Robinson Acing Falcons Tests

Entering his NFL debut, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has all eyes on him - and continues to deliver behind the scenes.

From the moment he became the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018, Atlanta Falcons rookie Bijan Robinson has faced lofty expectations.

Robinson, selected No. 8 overall in April, is already widely viewed as one of the favorites to win offensive rookie of the year and has been used as Atlanta's representative on promotional advertisements.

For most rookies, such considerable attention could create a heightened ego - but Robinson isn't a typical rookie.

Falcons coach Arthur Smith often jokes that Robinson and actor Matthew McConnaughey are the two biggest celebrities in Austin, Texas, home of the Longhorns.

Just consider that Robinson was a consensus All-American and winner of the Doak Walker Award given annually to college football's best running back, and it's not difficult to see why.

But the 21-year-old understands why there are expectations; he's been outspoken about it, stressing that he doesn't read much into the external weight put onto him.

The Falcons knew two things when they drafted Robinson: he was going to have high expectations put on him, and he has the skill set needed to match them.

What Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot weren't entirely sure about is how he'd handle it; they were confident in the work that had been done on his character but didn't truly know.

Technically, Smith notes, they still don't fully know and likely won't until he hits the field for regular season action ... but thus far, he's checked every box the Falcons hoped he would on draft night.

“When you make those investments, you have to make sure it’s the right person," Smith said. "So far, so good. It will be the first big test in a real stressful environment - he’s passed them all so far. He’s exactly who I thought he was."

That test, of course, is Sunday's season opener against the Carolina Panthers inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, set to be Robinson's regular season debut.

During his first preseason action, Robinson awed, taking four carries for 20 yards and adding a one-handed reception in his lone drive.

But the Falcons already knew they had a versatile playmaker; Robinson departed Texas as the fourth-leading rusher in program history with over 3,410 yards and third-leading receiver among running backs with 805 yards while racking up 41 total touchdowns.

As a result, Smith and Fontenot knew Robinson's skill set would translate. After spending time with him in the pre-draft process, Atlanta's decision makers liked the maturity they saw.

This intuition was supported by proof that Robinson wasn't going to be changed by an influx of money - consider his NIL value was placed at $1.8 million by On3 and he received a Lamborghini through a partnership.

As Smith pointed out, Robinson was a literal star in Austin - he constantly had video cameras around him and grew used to the spotlight, even if it isn't his favorite thing.

But this rise to early stardom prepared Robinson to handle the attention he's drawn before even playing a professional snap, with Smith noting the toxicity of social media and how impressed he is with the way the 5-11, 215-pound ballcarrier has put everything else aside and focused on improving each day.

"In some ways, he’s even more mature than I realized in handling expectations and pressure," Smith said. That’s not easy. It gets harder and harder, especially with everything at your fingertips now. There’s a lot of things to handle on the mental side.

"I have to give Bijan credit - he does a good job handling that stuff."

There will still be nerves for Robinson come Sunday afternoon, he admitted. Smith added that every player - even seasoned veterans - will be nervous.

But Robinson already knows how to attack it. Notedly strong in his faith, he plans on praying with his family before the game and said that once he takes the field for his first snap, it'll all go away.

The Tucson, Az., native carries what Smith dubbed a "different mindset," which helps him handle the craze of outside attention. It's these "day-to-day habits" that have made Smith take note of Robinson's maturity and assured the Falcons selected the right person, not only the right player.

Perhaps most importantly, Smith isn't alone in his assessment.

Falcons All-Pro right guard Chris Lindstrom praised Robinson's work ethic. Franchise rookie record-breaking receiver Drake London has noted his level-headedness. Starting quarterback Desmond Ridder said the most surprising attribute about Robinson is how humble he is, citing the spotlight he had at Texas as something that made him unsure.

But Ridder, who pointed towards his collegiate friendship with reigning defensive rookie of the year and New York Jets cornerback Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner, added that he's seen levels of stardom ... but Robinson shows no signs of it.

“He’s just come in here and been incredibly humble," Ridder said. "He came in here and put his head down and worked his butt off, and I think you’ll see it pay off.”

The Falcons certainly believe it will pay off - perhaps as soon as this Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff.

But if returns aren't immediate, there won't be any concerns inside Atlanta's headquarters. Smith and Fontenot are well aware of the talent they have in Robinson, and are now learning just how special of a person they have, too.

The goal now becomes proving that to the rest of the league, though most already know - after all, Robinson is who the Falcons thought he was from the start.

There's been endless buzz since the card was turned in on Apr. 27. Expectations are high. There's belief that Robinson can turn the tide of the Falcons' organization and grow into a legitimate face of the franchise type of player.

The journey begins Sunday - and while neither side knows for sure just how it'll all unfold, this certainly feels like it could be the start of a long, joyous marriage ... with the opportunity there for Robinson to run himself into Falcons lore.

"I'm super excited," Robinson said. "This is what God had planned for me, so I'm really excited to go out there and play for him, play for my teammates and play for everybody in Atlanta."