First-year head coach Steve Sarkisian has several question marks to sort out on the offensive side of the ball this season, but running back Bijan Robinson is not one of them.
Sarkisian won’t hesitate to give Robinson 20+ touches per game on a consistent basis, something that Longhorn fans were unable to witness last season under Tom Herman.
Although he was used sparingly as a true freshman, Robinson showcased every ounce of his five-star rating. His freshman campaign ended with 703 rushing yards, including 183 in the Valero Alamo Bowl against Colorado. The more impressive part is he accomplished that on 86 carries over nine games.
Robinson set the school record for yards per carry in a game (19.1) at Kansas State and yards per carry in a season (8.2). His rare athleticism coupled with offensive guru Steve Sarkisian is a primary reason Athlon Sports listed Robinson as the top breakout running back in college football for the 2021 season.
The nation’s top running back prospect in the 2020 cycle landed at No. 1. TCU’s Zach Evans and Oklahoma’s Eric Gray landed within the top five.
The combination of the arrival of new coach Steve Sarkisian, along with a heftier workload from Robinson, should turn the sophomore into one of the top running backs in college football. Robinson showcased what’s to come in 2021 by gashing Kansas State for 172 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries and a 183-yard effort versus Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
It’s a solid bet that Robinson will soon become a household name across the country.