New York Giants Draft Prospect: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas

Bijan Robinson projects as the top running back in a very deep class. Nick has your film breakdown.

Bijan Robinson, RB

Height: 6-0
Weight: 222 lbs.
Class: Junior
School: Texas
Age: 21 (born 1/30/2002)

A former five-star recruit out of Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona, where he was the first RB recruit and the second Arizonian prospect during the 2020 recruiting cycle. Robinson was the 294th highest-graded prospect coming out of high school in the 247 Sports database. Robinson rushed for 7,036 yards with 114 touchdowns in high school - an Arizona high school record.

Notables

An accomplished and impressive collegiate running back who projects as a complete package at the next level. The 2022 Doak Walker Award recipient (Top RB in the nation) was a Unanimous All-American in 2022 and earned First Team All-Big-12 honors the past two seasons. He finished ninth in Heisman voting this past season. Robinson ranks fourth all-time in Longhorns’ history with 3,410 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns (33 rushing, eight receiving).

Robinson nearly recorded 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 2022; he rushed for 1,580 yards with 314 receiving yards and a collective 20 touchdowns (2 receiving); Robinson would have likely eclipsed 2,000 yards from scrimmage if he did not opt out of the Alamo Bowl.

Texas knew they had a real one when Robinson rushed for 183 yards and a touchdown on ten rushes in the 2020 Alamo Bowl, where Robinson won the MVP as a freshman. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry through his colligate career (6.1 in 2022) and reached the 1,000-yard mark twice.

No running back was selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, which poses the question about the likelihood of Robinson hearing his name called on Day 1. As good as Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker were, Robinson offers more upside. Some team picking in the first round will add this dynamic running back to their offense.

Strengths

• Well-built, dense frame - rock solid
• Good angular build - ankle, knee, and hip flexibility
• Excellent athlete with the short area quickness to make defenders miss in a phone booth
• A ton of immediate juice and spring in his step
• Excellent ability to change direction and maintain/recollect speed
• Redirects coarse well as a one-cut back (much more than that)
• Elite suddenness with his jump-cut
• Elusive in tight quarters
• Good deep speed - can hit home runs
• Excellent vision inside and outside of the box - does well operating in space
• Tempos run well and can press the LOS to force committing defenders
• Makes defenders wrong if they over-commit/anticipate
• Very controlled footwork and balance
• Change of direction ability is very dangerous against over-pursuing defenders
• Excellent burst through holes - prompt lateral quickness to make defenders look silly
• Active eyes to diagnose cut-back lanes
• Excellent anticipation of blocks: reads, reacts, attacks and anticipates well
• Erases defenders angles - had 104 missed tackles in 2022
• Elite contact balance to run through arm tackles - falls through contact
• Does a good overall job running with power
• Runs well behind his pads, can get low - keeps legs churning through contact
• Natural receiving ability - had some success in the slot
• Impressive ability to adjust to the football with natural hands
• Iowa State: Q2 00:32 2nd & 6 - deep
• Texas Tech: Q1 14:49 1st & 10, 22yds
• Displayed upside with processing and physicality in pass protection
• Q4, 7:49 3rd & 9
• Several reps against Kansas State
• Elite toughness to lower his shoulder and pick up extra yards
• Easily a three-down back at the NFL level

Weaknesses

• Can get greedy and attempt to hit a home run instead of settling for a double
• If that’s one of his biggest gripes, then sign me up
• Although competent in pass protection, there are still mistakes in identifying and framing blocks - Alabama: Q2, 3:29, 3rd & 9
• Missed the end of 2021 with an elbow injury - suffered a shoulder injury in 2022 that required an MRI (was fine)

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Summary

Bijan Robinson possesses all the necessary athletic traits to thrive in the NFL, possessing excellent size and a physical nature. At the next level, he can be a true “X-factor” football player. He makes athletic defenders look silly in space and runs behind his pads well at the line of scrimmage. He’s a great blend of body control, footwork, vision, anticipatory skills, and nimbleness.

Robinson will likely go in the first round of the upcoming draft, which isn’t always true for talented running backs. His ability to impact the game as a receiver and his other elite running back traits make him destined for a three-down role in the NFL. He won’t be taken in the top-5 because he’s a running back, but he’s a top-5 talent in this year’s draft. He’s a reliable high-floor player with a very high ceiling.

GRADE: 7.15 

Nick Falato

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