Another Texas running back is off the board, with Keilan Robinson being selected in the fifth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars with pick No. 167 overall.
Momentarily after he was selected on Saturday afternoon, his rookie contract details were revealed, via Spotrac. Robinson’s contract is for four years, $4.274 million. Additionally, the deal includes a signing bonus of $254,285 for the former Texas star.
Robinson began his career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, playing for Steve Sarkisianwhen he was the offensive coordinator in Tuscaloosa. However, when Sarkisian accepted the Texas job, Robinson followed along and instantly became a big player inside for the program.
He was used in different ways in offense, not truly ever being an every-down back. Sarkisian would send Robinson in motion and find ways to get him the ball in space. Robinson had 874 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns during his time on the 40 Acres, with 332 yards and three touchdowns coming through the air.
Texas relied on Robinson on special teams as well. Whether being on the return team or returning kicks — 897 yards and a touchdown — Robinson was a critical special teams player. It’s arguably the place he will make his money while in the NFL.
Robinson played high school football in Washington DC at St. John’s High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 279 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Keilan Robinson
Lance Zierlein of the NFL Network gave his analysis on Robinson, talking about his ability as a running back. Zierlein admits the Texas product is in a “tough spot” due to his size. Robinson weighed in at 5-8, 191 pounds.
There is a positive 40-yard dash time on his resume, running a 4.42 at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. But in Zierlein’s eyes, somebody will really have to buy into Robinson having a versatile role to see him make a roster for the 2024 season.
“Robinson could be in a tough spot, as he will likely need to prove to teams that he can help in multiple areas in order to make a roster,” Zierlein said. “He’s a bendy runner with easy agility when the ball is in his hands. He might be considered too small to handle a backup role, and teams might question whether he has the physical traits for versatility on special teams.
“However, he’s good at what he does, which is eluding tacklers in space and creating opportunities as a pass catcher and kick returner. He’s talented, but might have a difficult task convincing teams that he can handle a variety of roles.”
On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this article.
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