2022 NFL Draft Profile: Alabama Running Back Brian Robinson Jr.
Brian Robinson Jr.'s story is one of perseverance.
The hometown product attended Hillcrest High School, where he rushed for 990 yards on 161 attempts with 18 rushing touchdowns as a senior while adding 24 receptions for 302 yards and two scores. The four-star product grew up rooting for the Crimson Tide, especially after Nick Saban arrived in 2007.
"The one game that probably stuck out to me the most was the first one I got a chance to watch," Robinson said. "That was the game versus Texas in Pasadena, Mark Ingram's Heisman year. That was the first time I got to see them play in a big game like that. And watching them dominate, that performance, it really stuck out to me."
Robinson committed to Alabama over Auburn, Georgia and Ole Miss. But he was deep on the depth chart, and for the first couple of years primarily used as a short-yardage back or on kick returns.
He finally entered the rotation in 2019, and finished with 96 carries for 441 yards and five touchdowns, and similarly in 2020 had 91 carries for 483 yards and six touchdowns while backing up Najee Harris.
“I really just learned just the work process," Robinson said. "Just how we need to go about working every single day to get what we want. Being beside those guys, just seeing them work hard every day and create opportunities for themselves on NFL rosters as they are right now, I just use that as motivation for me.”
With Harris having left for the NFL as Alabama's all-time leading rusher, Robinson finally took over in the backfield. He started all 13 games and finished with 248 carries for 1268 yards and 14 touchdowns, plus added 32 catches for 268 yards and another two scores.
“B-Rob has always been a hard worker," Saban said during the 2021 season. "He's always been a tough guy. He's really shown a lot of perseverance in doing those things and not getting tremendous reward for it, because he's never really had an opportunity to be the man. But I think based on what he's invested in the program, what he's done and the production that he's had when he has played, he certainly deserves that opportunity. And I think he's taking advantage of it right now.”
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Draft Day 1
- What: Round 1
- When: Thursday, April 28
- Time: 7 p.m. CT
- TV: NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (es)
- Mobile and CTV: NFL, ESPN
- Web: NFL.com, ABC.go.com, ESPN.com
Draft Day 2
- What: Rounds 2-3
- When: Friday, April 29
- Time: 6 p.m.
- TV: NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (es)
- Mobile and CTV: NFL, ESPN
- Web: NFL.com, ABC.go.com, ESPN.com
Draft Day 3
- What: Rounds 4-7
- When: Saturday, April 30
- Time: 11 a.m.
- TV: NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (es)
- Mobile and CTV: NFL, ESPN
- Web: NFL.com, ABC.go.com, ESPN.com
BamaCentral will profile each of the former Crimson Tide players expected to be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. This is the 10th story in the series: