Welcome to the NFL young beginner! After being important players in their universities, rookies must once again earn their places in the pros. Who are they and what hopes do they raise? Come and discover these new gems.
Bijan Robinson
Born January 30, 2002 in Tucson, Arizona
1m80 for 97 kilos
Runner, Atlanta Falcons
Choosing a runner in the first round of the draft is an increasingly criticized strategy. So in the top 10, this is subject to mockery. But there was urgency because in terms of yards gained, the Falcons ranked only 24th in 2022!
To enhance the taste of this attack, Bijan Robinson has his own sauce. A mustard recipe inspired by that of Dijon: the Bijan Mustardson.
If I were a quality: generational
A somewhat overused term because it is too quickly used on players who ultimately do not meet this enormous expectation. However, the NFL has not seen a runner of such a level since the draft of Saquon Barkley in 2018. And Bijan Robinson offers a more complete profile than the latter.
Reminiscent of Le’Veon Bell (2013-2021), he knows how to be patient behind his blockers before triggering his run. Bijan Robinson can also be compared to Josh Jacobs (Raiders). The two players share the same liveliness-power combo allowing them to resist the first contact: Bijan Robinson forced 102 tackles in 2022, a record since the Pro Football Focus site kept this statistic up to date (2014)!
In addition, his hands are as sure as those of Austin Ekeler (Chargers) and his game intelligence allows him to run routes like a receiver (see video at the end of the article).
If I were a flaw: speed
Bijan Robinson will encounter faster defenders in the NFL, but if his top speed is good (4.46 seconds for 40 yards), he will have more difficulty losing them. With the University of Texas, he signed 8 runs of 30 yards or more in 12 games in 2022! He owes it above all to his playing intelligence to take the right running angle, as well as his liveliness to change direction.
In terms of speed, Bijan Robinson is not slow but is more lively than fast.
If I were an NFL player: Reggie Bush
NFL player from 2006 to 2016, Reggie Bush was also a star in the NCAA in his time. The two are comparable for their overflow speed with the ball in their hands and also for their receiving skills.
Like his elder, Bijan Robinson offers this “electric” profile to dynamize the game of an attack. Bijan Robinson almost joined the same university as his idol.
“I always loved USC because of Reggie Bush. He was my childhood idol. “, he told TrojanSports.com
If I were a journey: miraculous hero from birth
Bijan Robinson finished his high school career by becoming the record holder for rushing yards and touchdowns in the state of Arizona. So obviously all the best universities offered him a scholarship: from Alabama to Ohio State, including Michigan and USC. He finally chose to join Texas and a particular reason weighed in his choice: the fact of having a single room!
“He’s terrified of germs!” He didn’t want to share his room with another player and above all he wanted a bathroom just for him,” his mother told hookem.com
From his first university season, he started the last 6 games of the 2020 season and he signed the incredible average of 8.2 yards per carry: university record! But his 700 yards and 4 touchdowns scored are nothing compared to what follows: 1,127 yards and 11 TDs in 2021 then 1,580 yards and 18 TDs in 2022! Furthermore, these figures only relate to his performances on the ground: 805 yards and 8 touchdowns in receptions in 3 seasons.
But all this could never have happened!
When Bijan Robinson came out of the womb, his skin color was blue! This baby was not breathing and while doctors worked to bring him to life, his mother prayed. The family says that it was finally when his grandmother placed her hands on him that the baby started to cry and therefore to breathe!
The word Bijan in Persian (Farsi) means “hero”. It is therefore easy to conclude that with such a start in life, his mother would have wanted to name him that. However, this first name was already chosen even before the difficulties during childbirth. Working in the perfume department of a large supermarket chain, her mother one day came across a bottle called “Bijan Cologne”. She loved this name so much that she decided that her first boy would have it as his first name.
It was only after her child was born that a work colleague of Iranian origin revealed to her the meaning of this word in her language. A sign of destiny, this first name seems to suit this formidable player perfectly.
If I Were a Plan: Chosen for an explosive attack
The Atlanta Falcons are trying to rebuild a competitive team by relying on talented forwards. After tight end Kyle Pitts in 2021 and receiver Drake London in 2022, they added runner Bijan Robinson in the 2023 draft. Three top 10 picks each time.
The runner’s position remains the most exposed to shocks and therefore injuries. However, the University of Texas managed its gem well by giving him only 539 carries in three seasons. Where Penn State had entrusted 671 to Saquon Barkley (Giants) and Iowa State 718 to Breece Hall (Jets).
The Texas Longhorns offense paired him with a stronger runner to pound the opposing defensive lines: this player was Roschon Johnson, drafted in the 4th round of the 2023 draft by Chicago. In Atlanta, the efficient and strong Tyler Allgeier (1,035 yards in 2022) plays this role.
If I was an NFL starter:
From his first NFL game, Bijan Robinson shows all his versatility with 56 yards rushing and 27 yards after receptions. He even scored his first touchdown in the NFL after a reception. Against the Packers for his second game, he exploded! With 124 rushing yards and 48 receiving yards, Bijan Robinson shows why he was a top 10 pick in the 2023 draft.
