It’s a Texas Thing!!! The University of Texas has a historic tradition of producing some of the most prolific running backs of all-time. In 2022, the buzz around the college football’s post pandemic season was the one-two punch of the Longhorn’s backfield. Powered by the junior running back from Tucson, Arizona, Bijan Robinson and senior back Roschon Johnson from Port Arthur, Texas, the duo proved to be unstoppable all season long.
In the Big 12, the Texas Longhorns went 8-5, with a conference record of 6-3. With a season full of highs and lows, the ground attack of the Longhorns kept fans in awe with an amazing highlight reel on repeat of jaw dropping runs from the two featured backs. Robinson led the Big 12 in carries, with 258, amassing nearly 1,600 yards, while Johnson supported his efforts with 93 carries for 550 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. The two were simply unstoppable.
NFL owners and draft scouts are checking their list, and checking them twice, and best believe both Roschon Johnson and Bijan Robinson will leave the draft board in a hurry. I can’t help but make a stark comparison to America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys backfield. Bijan reminds many of Ezekiel Elliot, and Roschon has drawn similarities to the running style of Tony Pollard. The chances that both will end up on the same club, are non and void; however, the two backs complimented each other on the gridiron. Bijan Robinson, the Doak Walker Award winner and All-American is projected to be the first running back selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Roschon Johnson is projected to be picked as the 10th best running back on the board according to Mel Kiper’s top ten. I seriously doubt that Roschon will last long enough to hear his name called after the 3rd round. Roschon possesses a plethora of skills that will definitely raise his stock.
Led by then, second year head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns did an amazing job of placing the duo in position to win. And win, indeed they did! Bijan Robinson was the nation’s leader with 1,894 total yards from scrimmage with 20 touchdowns. Both Roschon and Bijan possess unique skillsets that will make them a sure-fire pick for the many in the hunt of a premiere back. Roschon is what NFL scouts would consider a Swiss army knife because of his ability to catch out of the backfield, block and return punts and kick-offs. On the other end, Bijan has that special sauce of which we haven’t seen since the great Barry Sanders. Bijan’s ability to see the field and adjust on the fly is the ingredient that comes as a premium in the league.
With just three players being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft from the University of Texas since 2010, it seems 2023 will be the year that Texas shines! Good Luck, Hook’em Horns #LonghornNation
Bijan Robinson / Roschon Johnson 2022 Stats
ProMediaBank ranks Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson
Bijan Robinson to Dallas Cowboys in 1st Round pick 26
Roschon Johnson to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Round 4 pick 121
