The dust may still be settling on the Kansas City Chiefs’ success in Arizona, but already thoughts are turning towards Super Bowl LVIII in Paradise, Nevada. Punters are making their early plans at the best new betting sites, whilst for the 32 franchises, preparations are now well underway, as the sides look to build upon what went right and fix what went wrong in 2023/24.
Whilst there were certainly positives to take for Baltimore from the season just gone, a loss on Wild Card weekend was ultimately a disappointing conclusion to the campaign. But where does the team need to improve to take that step up to the next level?
Having finished the season third in rushing yards per game, the ground game may not be the obvious first port of call for those analyzing areas for improvement. However, if the right player becomes available, it would surely be remiss for the decision-makers to not at least consider snapping him up.
With that in mind, one name increasingly cropping up in Ravens News discussion is that of Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson.
Bursting onto the Scene
Born in Tucson, Arizona, Robinson took the first steps in his football career at Salpointe Catholic High School and wasn’t long in displaying his phenomenal skillset to the world. By the time his high school career had concluded, he had set a state record in rushing for 7,036 yards and 114 touchdowns – being voted the Arizona Gatorade Football Player of the Year in his senior year.
Next Stop Texas
From a raft of options, Robinson opted to head to the University of Texas and play his college football for the Longhorns. It was in Texas that the 6ft 220lb back developed from a prodigious talent to a potentially NFL-ready star.
Robinson wasted little time during his freshman year, being crowned the Alamo Bowl MVP after rushing for a sizzling 183 yards and a touchdown. That high level of performance continued throughout his three years in the Burnt Orange as he emerged as a genuine three-down back, putting up 4,215 combined yards and 41 touchdowns.
Widely recognized as the most talented running back in the college game, that opinion was rubber-stamped when Robinson was crowned the 2022 winner of the prestigious Doak Walker Award and made a unanimous All-American.
Come in Number 22?
Predicting exactly how the draft will unfold at this stage is always a slightly precarious business, with a number of unexpected picks likely to put the cat amongst the pigeons. Nevertheless, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the Ravens could take Robinson with the 22nd overall pick.
That of course depends upon the priorities of the other franchises. Robinson is almost unanimously rated a first-round pick, but opinion on exactly where he sits in the pecking order varies. Many analysts have him inside the top ten, with some ranking him as high as 4th overall.
On balance, a degree of luck will likely be required if Robinson is to fall as low as 22, but if he does, don’t be surprised to see Baltimore snap him up – even with their current strength in the running game.
Ravens Director of Player Personnel, Joe Hortiz, certainly seems to be a fan, stating, “He’s just a really talented player. He’s versatile. He plays on all three downs …. Obviously he’s a great runner – athletic, explosive, fast – but he can also do things in the passing game and is a willing blocker. If you get a chance to take a great player, you’ve got to take him.”
One Response
Can he play quarterback?