Robinson ready for enhanced role with Tide
Being Alabama’s fourth-string running back and being Alabama’s second-string running back are two very different worlds. Brian Robinson Jr. is very aware of that. He’s living proof. “Obviously it’s more serious,” Robinson said in a recent news conference. “I’ve always taken things seriously, but it’s at the next level now. The role is increasing, and I’ll be used for more things.” The 6-foot-1, 226-pound junior from Tuscaloosa was behind Damien Harris, Josh Jacobs and Najee Harris on the depth chart last season, when Alabama won its first 14 games before falling to Clemson in the national championship contest. The Oakland Raiders drafted Jacobs in the first round this past April, while the New England Patriots selected Damien Harris in the third round, leaving Najee Harris and Robinson 1-2 this preseason.
Five-star freshman Trey Sanders hoped to be in the mix but sustained a foot injury late last week that will require surgery.
“Brian Robinson has done a good job in whatever we’ve asked him to do,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. “He’s been an outstanding special-teams player. He’s a really good competitor. He’s very instinctive as a runner, and he has a good overall knowledge of the offense.
“There is no reason for him not to assume a greater role.”
Robinson was a consensus fourstar prospect in the 2017 signing class and was rated by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 82 overall prospect. He rushed 161 times for 990