2020 NFL Draft: James Robinson is an exciting mid-round RB prospect
James Robinson is an exciting small-school 2020 NFL Draft prospect who we should all be keeping an eye on.
Every year, a handful of small-school prospects rise the ranks and end up catching the attention of draft scouts. The 2020 NFL Draft is not going to be any sort of an exception. Today, we are going to take a look at one of the most interesting and potentially impactful small-school prospects in the 2020 NFL draft class, as we dig into Illinois State running back James Robinson.
Robinson has been incredible at the FCS level the last two seasons. Per ESPN, Robinson carried the ball 205 times last season for 1,290 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2019, he completely carried the Illinois State offense, finishing with 364 carries for 1,899 yards and 18 touchdowns.
His numbers are incredibly impressive, but it is much more than that. It does not take long while watching Robinson to come away impressed with his game and how he can translate to the next level.
Robinson is not the most explosive running back in the 2020 NFL draft class, but his overall skill-set certainly makes him such an intriguing prospect. He has incredible ball carrier vision and the quickness to get to the hole once it opens up. His burst is average at best, but Robinson has impressive short-area quickness that helps make him elusive in the open field.
Robinson is not only quick, but he is also powerful at the point of attack. He does a great job of keeping his feet moving and picking up extra yards after the first contact and has fantastic natural contact balance. Robinson has a knack for keeping his feet throughout contact and that kind of skill can be incredibly valuable at the next level.
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There are going to be questions about his level of college competition, but Robinson’s combination of vision, quickness, power and balance is going catch the attention of NFL scouts. The 2020 NFL Draft is loaded with talent and depth, but Robinson certainly has the ability to make his mark at the next level. If the middle rounds roll around and you need a running back, look no further than James Robinson.