After playing in massively talented running back rooms with the Longhorns, Robinson was picked earlier than expected thanks to his explosiveness and ability on special teams.
The surprise invite to the NFL Draft Combine for the Texas Longhorns was a surprise selection in the fifth round on Saturday when the Jacksonville Jaguars picked running back Keilan Robinson with the No. 167 pick.
Hooked ‘Em
We have selected Texas RB Keilan Robinson with the 167th overall pick!@Dream_Finders | @__keilan pic.twitter.com/TWi0WGUW9v
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 27, 2024
The 5’8, 191-pound transfer from Alabama is the eighth Texas player picked in this year’s draft, the program’s most since the draft went to seven rounds in 1994 and third-most in seven rounds in school history. With fellow Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks coming off the board in the second round, the Jaguars picking Robinson marks the second time in the common draft era that two Texas running backs were picked the same year after 1982.
“It feels good to see everyone at the next level and see that we all made it,” Robinson said in a statement released by the school. “It just shows the kind of players we’ve got at Texas and the kind of coaches we’ve got. Two years in a row with two running backs drafted, that’s kind of unheard of. It’s crazy, and it just shows the pedigree and the work that’s been put in. We all expected to be in this position, and we all knew what we could do and the kind of coaching that we had and the kind of leadership, so it just goes to show you how things are at Texas.”
After playing with Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson, and Brooks, Robinson may play in a less talented room in Jacksonville — the Jaguars clearly believe in his upside on offense in addition to his proven ability on special teams that could ensure a long career in the league for the Washington, D.C. product.
“Jacksonville got a big-time playmaker at running back and on special teams in Keilan Robinson,” said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. “He’ll be an absolute do-it-all-threat for the Jaguars. Keilan was a critical addition when he came into our program. When he transferred from Alabama, he was the one guy that really had played for us and could help show the guys how we needed to do things. He knew our style of coaching, he knew the demanding style we had, but he also knew the relationship piece and how important it was, too. I think a big thing about Keilan as a player is his versatility. We used him a lot in the gadget type plays, getting him the ball on the parameter. He has elite speed so when he gets the ball in space, he’s always a threat to go the distance to score. We saw that in the running game, the passing game and kickoff return game here, so his versatility and ability to do multiple things are key. He’s tough, he’ll pass protect and do all those types of things that create value for himself because of the versatility he provides. And with the new kick returns rules in the NFL, Keilan will be an awesome weapon in that role for the Jaguars too. I’m fired up for him and looking forward to seeing him in the NFL.”