Brian Robinson Jr.
refer to caption
Robinson with the Commanders in 2022
No. 8 – Washington Commanders
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1999-03-22) March 22, 1999 (age 24)
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school:Hillcrest
(Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
College:Alabama (2017–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / Round: 3 / Pick: 98
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2023
Rushing yards:1,530
Rushing average:4.0
Rushing touchdowns:7
Receptions:45
Receiving yards:428
Receiving touchdowns:5
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Brian Robinson Jr. (born March 22, 1999) is an American football running back for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was a two-time national champion before being selected by the Commanders in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Prior to the start of his rookie season, Robinson was shot twice during an armed robbery after leaving a restaurant and returned to the team less than two months later.

Early years

Robinson Jr. was born on March 22, 1999, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He attended Hillcrest High School, where he rushed for 990 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior and was named second team Class 6A All-State.[1][2] Robinson was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play at the University of Alabama.[3][4][5]

College career

In his collegiate debut against Vanderbilt, Robinson scored his first collegiate rushing touchdown in the 59–0 victory.[6] As a freshman, Robinson rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns as a reserve player behind Najee Harris and Josh Jacobs as Alabama went on to win the 2018 CFP National Championship Game.[7][8]

In the 2018 season, Robinson carved out a role as Alabama's fourth running back.[9] Robinson gained 272 yards and two touchdowns on 63 carries in his sophomore season.[10]

In the 2019 season, Robinson became Alabama's second running back, only behind Najee Harris.[11] As a junior, Robinson rushed 96 times for 441 yards and five rushing touchdowns while catching 11 passes for 124 receiving yards.[12][13]

In the 2020 season, Robinson continued to be the second running back to Harris.[14] Alabama won their second national title during his time there.[15] He totaled 91 carries for 483 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.[16]

Following Harris leaving for the NFL Draft, Robinson finally became Alabama's featured back as a fifth-year senior in 2021. Though hampered by injuries, Robinson roughly equaled his output of the previous four years, leading the Southeastern Conference in carries and touchdowns.[17] He dominated the Alabama backfield in terms of production.[18] On October 2, against Ole Miss, he had 36 carries for 171 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the 42–21 victory.[19] In the following game against Texas A&M, he had 207 scrimmage yards in the 41–38 loss.[20] In the next game against Mississippi State, he had 141 scrimmage yards and three total touchdowns in the 49–9 victory.[21] In the next game, against Tennessee in the Third Saturday in October, he had 26 carries for 107 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in the 52–24 victory.[22] He was named the most valuable player of the 2021 Cotton Bowl Classic after rushing for 204 yards, a school record for a bowl game.[23] He finished the 2021 season with 271 carries for 1,343 rushing yards, and 14 rushing touchdowns to go along with 35 receptions for 296 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.[24]

College statistics

Season GP Rushing Receiving
Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD
2017 6 24 165 6.9 2 0 0 0 0
2018 9 63 272 4.3 2 0 0 0 0
2019 13 96 441 4.6 5 11 124 11.3 0
2020 13 91 483 5.3 6 6 26 4.3 0
2021 14 271 1,343 5 14 35 296 8.5 2
Career 55 545 2,704 5 29 52 446 8.6 2

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 1+5⁄8 in
(1.87 m) 		225 lb
(102 kg) 		31+7⁄8 in
(0.81 m) 		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 4.53 s 1.57 s 2.63 s 4.59 s 7.33 s 30.0 in
(0.76 m)		 9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)
Sources:[25][26]

Robinson was selected by the Washington Commanders in the third round (98th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, as one of three picks the New Orleans Saints had traded to acquire the pick they used to draft Chris Olave.[27] He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 18, 2022.[28] On August 28, 2022, Robinson was shot in the knee and glute during an armed robbery involving two men after leaving a restaurant in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Washington, D.C. shortly before 6 p.m. EDT.[29] He suffered no life-threatening damage and was discharged from MedStar Washington Hospital Center the following day.[30] Robinson missed the first four games of the season before making his NFL debut in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans, where he rushed nine times for 22 yards.[31]

Robinson's first career touchdown came the following week against the Chicago Bears, a game-winner in the fourth quarter of a Commanders victory.[32] He recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game in a Week 12 win over the Atlanta Falcons.[33] As a rookie, he appeared in 12 games and started nine. He finished with 205 carries for 797 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with nine receptions for 60 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[34] He was named the 2022 Inspiration of the Year by Sports Illustrated and voted Washington's Ed Block Courage Award winner.[35][36]

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2022 WAS 12 9 205 797 3.9 24 2 9 60 6.7 18 1 2 0
2023 WAS 15 15 178 733 4.1 29 5 36 368 10.2 51 4 4 2
Career 27 24 383 1,530 4.0 29 7 45 428 9.5 51 5 6 2

References

  1. ^ Suttles, Aaron (March 27, 2019). "For Najee Harris and Brian Robinson, patience is about to pay off". The Athletic. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Morgan, Blake (October 11, 2019). "Brian Robinson Jr.: 3 facts on the Alabama football running back". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Waldrep, Tyler (February 1, 2017). "Signing with Alabama a dream come true for Hillcrest's Brian Robinson". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Kirpalani, Sanjay (November 10, 2015). "4-Star Brian Robinson Commits to Alabama: Tide Continue to Make Case as RB U". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  5. ^ Tsoukalas, Tony (February 1, 2017). "Four-star RB Brian Robinson not afraid of competition at Alabama". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Alabama at Vanderbilt Box Score, September 23, 2017". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Byington, Alex (April 11, 2018). "Alabama sophomore running back Brian Robinson has improved tremendously". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  8. ^ Pineda, Caroline (July 21, 2022). "Brian Robinson Jr. was patient at Alabama. Next up: Commanders' backfield". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  9. ^ "2018 Alabama Crimson Tide Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Paschall, David (August 12, 2019). "Brian Robinson ready for enhanced role with Crimson Tide". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  11. ^ "2019 Alabama Crimson Tide Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Martin, Tyler (September 8, 2020). "RB Brian Robinson Jr. Says Alabama Has Its "Eyes On the Prize"". SI.com. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  13. ^ Paschall, David (September 8, 2020). "Alabama's Brian Robinson Jr. eager to experience Steve Sarkisian's Offense". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "2020 Alabama Crimson Tide Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  15. ^ Casagrande, Michael (January 12, 2021). "A look at Alabama's dominant title game win over Ohio State". AL.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  16. ^ "Brian Robinson 2020 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  17. ^ Litman, Laken (January 7, 2022). "Alabama's Brian Robinson waited his turn to become a star". FOX Sports. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "2021 Alabama Crimson Tide Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "Ole Miss at Alabama Box Score, October 2, 2021". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "Alabama at Texas A&M Box Score, October 9, 2021". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  21. ^ "Alabama at Mississippi State Box Score, October 16, 2021". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  22. ^ "Tennessee at Alabama Box Score, October 23, 2021". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  23. ^ Francis, Katie (December 31, 2021). "Brian Robinson Jr sets insane Alabama record in Cotton Bowl vs. Cincinnati". ClutchPoints.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "Brian Robinson 2021 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  25. ^ "Brian Robinson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  26. ^ "Brian Robinson, Alabama, RB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  27. ^ Jhabvala, Nicki (April 29, 2022). "Commanders select pair of Alabama products on Day 2 of NFL draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  28. ^ Williams, Charean (May 18, 2022). "Commanders sign third-rounder Brian Robinson Jr". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  29. ^ Jhabvala, Nicki; Davies, Emily (August 29, 2022). "Commanders' Brian Robinson Jr. 'able to wrestle a firearm away' in robbery". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  30. ^ Marrero, Nathaniel (August 30, 2022). "Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. Released From Hospital; When Will He Return?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  31. ^ Rapoport, Ian (October 8, 2022). "Commanders rookie RB Brian Robinson to play on Sunday vs. Titans". NFL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  32. ^ Baer, Jack (October 13, 2022). "Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. scores 1st career TD, a game-winner, 46 days after being shot twice". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  33. ^ Fortier, Sam (November 27, 2022). "Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. racks up big yards and wears a big hat". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  34. ^ "Brian Robinson 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  35. ^ Andres, Patrick (December 8, 2022). "Brian Robinson Jr. Named Sports Illustrated's Inspiration of the Year". SI.com. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  36. ^ "Commanders to honor Brian Robinson Jr. with 'Ed Block Courage Award'". WJLA-TV. December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brian Robinson Jr..
Washington Commanders roster
Washington Commanders 2022 NFL Draft selections
2017 Alabama Crimson Tide football—consensus national champions
2020 Alabama Crimson Tide football—consensus national champions
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