Bijan Robinson was selected No. 8 overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons Thursday evening. Robinson, of course, is the first Longhorn off the board and Texas’ first first-round selection since Malcolm Brown went 32nd overall to the Patriots in 2015.
Robinson is also the first Texas running back selected in the first round since the Chicago Bears took Cedric Benson at No. 5 in the 2005 draft.
Those who know Robinson’s game aren’t surprised. He won the Doak Walker Award this past season and was a unanimous All-American selection, rushing for a total of 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2022/23.
Looking for highlights? We’ve got you covered.
Just a reminder of how silly of a prospect Bijan Robinson is. pic.twitter.com/M5YlVGqaWg
— Jake Anderson (@JakeAndersonPGA) March 26, 2023
Robinson has speed, he’s shifty and, as you can see above, has incredible vision. He avoided a total of 113 tackles last season, the leading mark among running backs in FBS.
Running backs are not often selected in the first round by nature of their position and the always-present potential for an injury. Because of this, and because only the truly elite stand out, running backs are viewed as expendable in the NFL moreso than any other skill position.
But Robinson is quite literally built different. His journey in the NFL should be an exciting watch.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
