'Special!' Falcons Teammates Praise RB Bijan Robinson at Minicamp
By this point, Bijan Robinson has been called just about everything.
From "generational" and "elite" to critics claiming he was over-drafted, the talk surrounding the Atlanta Falcons' first-round pick and consensus All-American running back is largely case-by-case.
However, there's one specific faction who's given nothing but glowing remarks about Robinson - his teammates and coaches, both past and present.
That trend has only continued at Falcons minicamp, where Robinson, the No. 8 overall pick, has been the main attraction amongst a number of rookies and tryout players alike.
Early remarks on Robinson from fellow members of Atlanta's latest draft class have been unwaveringly positive - but perhaps most importantly, have largely centered around who he is off the field rather than on it.
Take, for instance, second-round offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron, the projected starter at left guard. Bergeron hails from Quebec and played his college ball at Syracuse, a long trek from Robinson's hometown of Tucson, Ariz., and completely different culture than Texas.
But it hasn't mattered. Bergeron and Robinson have already hit it off and formed a sound relationship, one the former is excited to carry into Sundays this fall.
"He's a great player," Bergeron said. "He's really humble - I've had the chance to talk to him and we bonded quickly and I'm just excited to go out there and block for him, whether it's (a) practice or game. He's a great dude, so I'm definitely grateful to be blocking for him."
The same sentiment is shared by seventh-round offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn, a native of Charlotte and four-year starter at South Carolina who's roommates with Robinson at minicamp.
There haven't been any crazy happenings, per Gwyn, as he and Robinson depart the facility and are so tired that they largely stay in their room.
Robinson, like Gwyn, is an early-riser, and has left a strong impression on his roommate for his character away from football, first and foremost.
"He's a good guy," Gwyn said.
Moving away from the offensive side of the ball, Falcons fourth-round cornerback Clark Phillips III has been given his first live introduction to Robinson this week and will walk away with the impression that he's as-advertised.
Phillips, the AP Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American of his own, didn't mince words when discussing Robinson's ability to change the outcome of games ... and once more praised his off-field habits.
"It's special," Phillips said. "A dude like that can pretty much do everything and I'm glad to be on his team. He's a super hard worker and I'm just glad I'm here working together with him."
Robinson will get the chance to play alongside the rest of his teammates shortly, with OTAs set to get started May 23 ... but if his fellow rookie classmates' words are any indication, he's picked up right where he left off collegiately.
And that, in short, could lead to something "special" in Atlanta.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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