Texas has one of the best running backs in the country on their hands in Bijan Robinson. Already voted to the preseason All-Big 12 first team, the former five-star recruit is ready to break out on the national stage.
His role is only going to expand under Steve Sarkisian. With an inexperienced quarterback taking the reigns this year, Robinson is expected to be the focal point of the offense. His speed, home run ability, and passion for the game are unmatched.
The recent comparisons for Robinson have been to former USC running back Reggie Bush. Sarkisian said the “one-cut ability” is the biggest similarity and he has not seen anything like it since the Heisman Trophy winner and wasn’t sure if he’d ever see it again.
“I think the biggest thing that Bijan resembles to Reggie Bush is the one-cut ability,” Sarkisian said. “I hadn’t seen that for quite some time — the ability to make that full speed, violent, one-cut, not lose top speed and get vertical. Bijan has that. Seeing it on tape is one thing, but to see it on the ground at field level is another.
Robinson himself admits he looked up to Bush when he was growing up, being a west coast kid himself. The No. 5 the Texas back dawns today is because of Bush.
#Texas RB Bijan Robinson said he wears #5 because of @ReggieBush and his big-play style: “I want that same energy…. Whenever I get the ball, my first thought is score… Every time that I touch the ball, I want it to be exciting for people to watch.”
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 15, 2021
During his final season at USC, Bush ran for over 1,700 yards on 200 total attempts. He led the Trojans to the national championship before coming up short in the Rose Bowl. Even so, he was by far the most exciting player in college football.
Robinson has the chance to achieve the same personal status this fall. Team accomplishments may fall short in comparison, but the running back is going to see a lot of the ball. His 8.2 yards per carry last season set a Texas football record. More is on the way.