TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– To most people it would be smart to redshirt a freshman running back, especially when a team has a lot of players at the position returning and another freshman that the program is high on. However, the University of Alabama football team lost two backs via transfer and could have its two primary guys leave at the conclusion of this season. With this being said, the idea of sitting four-star Brian Robinson becomes harder to do.
After a dominant high school career at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Robinson was one of the nation’s elite rushers and top-rated back in Alabama upon signing with the Crimson Tide. The 6-foot-1, 218-pounder showed much potential against the first team defense on A-Day, and per offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher, the home-grown talent “runs angry.”
“When Brian gets the ball, he runs with an attitude,” Pierschbacher said.
“He’s just out to get someone and he’s going to run you over. He runs mean and when you’re an offensive lineman, you love that. I enjoy making a block and seeing him cut in and run over a defensive back. It’s those types of things that I enjoy when I see talented guys in the backfield.”
During the Crimson Tide’s open practice on Saturday, Robinson turned in a couple of those mean runs throughout all 14 periods. He possesses the ability of pressing the hole, picking up tough yards, and even shedding off wimpy tacklers in bouncing runs outside. Should we see eye-popping runs from Robinson this season remains to be seen, but Pierschbacher’s description of him and what fans saw over the weekend may have outsiders excited for the fall.
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebookor “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
