Brian Robinson’s football career has stayed close to home until now. The Hillcrest High star who moved across town to play at Alabama five years ago is now venturing away from home after Friday night pick in the NFL draft.
The running back was the 98th overall pick of the third round going to the Washington Commanders. He’ll be reunited with teammate Phidarian Mathis who was picked by Washington earlier Friday night.
Robinson is the 13th Alabama running back drafted during the Nick Saban era though he waited a little longer than most of his predecessors. Seven of the 12 previous selections since 2009 went in the first or second round including Najee Harris, the 24th overall pick to the Steelers last spring.
After playing behind draft picks Harris, Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough, Robinson had his chance to lead the Crimson Tide rushing attack as a fifth-year senior.
Injuries to backups led to Robinson taking 271 of the 547 carries last season. His 1,343 rushing yards dwarfed Trey Sanders’ second-best total of 314 after previous No. 2 options Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams went down with ACL injuries.
An early highlight came against Ole Miss when Robinson ran for career highs in attempts (36), yards (171) and touchdowns (four) in the rout of Lane Kiffin’s crew. Robinson bettered the yardage total in the Cotton Bowl semifinal when he ran for 204 yards on 26 carries as Alabama opted to grind away at Cincinnati’s front seven as opposed to testing its elite secondary.
Robinson is the 12th player from Alabama’s 2017 recruiting class drafted into the NFL joining Mathis as 2022 picks.
Alabama RBs drafted under Saban
- Najee Harris (1st round-24th overall)
- Josh Jacobs (1-24)
- Damien Harris (3-87)
- Bo Scarbrough (7-236)
- Derrick Henry (2-45)
- Kenyan Drake (3-73)
- TJ Yeldon (2-36)
- Jalston Fowler (4-108)
- Eddie Lacy (2-61)
- Trent Richardson (1-3)
- Mark Ingram (1-28)
- Glen Coffee (3-74)
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