The expectations were high for Bijan Robinson coming into the 2020 college football season. The freshman started out the season at the bottom of the depth chart but would eventually work his way up to the started by the midway point on the season. He was by far the best running back on the roster. By the conclusion of the regular season, Robinson led the team in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage. All while playing fewer snaps than the others for most of the year.
So how does he compare to other freshman backs over the last two decades in Austin?
Yards per carry
When it comes to the yards per carry, only Jamaal Charles was better as a freshman. That is lofty company for any running back. It seemed as though any time Bijan touched the football, he could break off a huge run at any moment. We saw that against West Virginia and Kansas State. The more times you hand him the rock, the more likely it happens again.
| Running Back | Average | Year |
| Jamaal Charles | 7.4 | 2005 |
| Bijan Robinson | 6.8 | 2020 |
| Chris Warren III | 6.6 | 2015 |
| Joe Bergeron | 6.4 | 2011 |
| Roschon Johnson | 5.3 | 2019 |
Total Yards
There are seven freshman backs who have had better seasons in terms of yards rushing. Malcolm Brown and Bijan are the only two to have achieved 500+ yards in less than 10 games. Brown played nine games during his freshman season, Robinson will play in his ninth game in the Alamo Bowl. The question is, how high can Bijan climb?
| Running Back | Attempts | Yards | Year |
| Cedric Benson | 223 | 1,053 | 2001 |
| Jamaal Charles | 119 | 878 | 2005 |
| Malcolm Brown | 172 | 742 | 2011 |
| Keaontay Ingram | 142 | 708 | 2018 |
| Johnathan Gray | 149 | 701 | 2012 |
| Roschon Johnson | 123 | 649 | 2019 |
| Tre’ Newton | 116 | 552 | 2009 |
| Bijan Robinson | 76 | 520 | 2020 |
The only statistic that Bijan Robinson is outside the top 10 on is touchdowns. All three of his scores this season came against the Kansas State Wildcats in the season finale on Dec. 5. The Longhorns didn’t utilize him at all near the goal line.
His scores came from 12, 30, and 75 yards out. None of which came in goal to go situations. Robinson’s numbers would have likely been much better if he was given goal line carries in the way that Keaontay Ingram and Roschon Johnson were.
Goal to go utilization
| Runner | Carries | Yards | TDs |
| Johnson | 12 | 15 | 5 |
| Ehlinger | 7 | 12 | 5 |
| Ingram | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Robinson | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Thompson | 2 | 2 | 0 |
The fact that the backup quarterback who played a total of 27 snaps all season has as many goal-line carries as Bijan is criminal. Robinson played 251 snaps this season. That my friends is a prime example of coaching malpractice.
Given how Bijan performed this season when given the opportunities proves that he should be the feature back in 2021.