Workhorse: Bijan Robinson named first-team preseason All-American by USA TODAY Sports

[Aaron Carrara]

Photo Credit: Austin American Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK

Ahead of the upcoming 2021 college football season, USA TODAY Sports released its preseason All-American team on Wednesday morning. The University of Texas placed one athlete on the list - sophmore running back Bijan Robinson.  Robinson was named one of two first-team players at the position, joining Iowa State's Breece Hall as the other to garner the honor.

Robinson, an early Heisman contender to start the season, carried the ball 86 times for 703 yards last year for an average of 8.2 yards per carry.  His carries were sparse during the first three games, toting the rock just 14 times, before the then-Tom Herman led offense increased his workload marginally.  Robinson still shared carries with Roschon Johnson, but finished the season with career-high performances. 

In the last regular game of the season, on the road against Kansas State, Robinson had 9 carries for 172 yards and 3 touchdowns.  That was good enough for 19.1 yards per carry.

The Longhorns faced the Colorado Buffaloes in the Valero Alamo Bowl, and Robinson continued his dominance, racking up 183 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.  He also had two receiving touchdowns in the Longhorns' 55-23 win over Colorado.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian says the ideal number of carries for Robinson this season is roughly 20 - which would be more carries than he received in any game he's played in during his one season in Austin.

USA TODAY Sports Preseason All-Americans

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma (So.)

RB: Breece Hall, Iowa State (Jr.)

RB: Bijan Robinson, Texas (So.)

WR: Chris Olave, Ohio State (Sr.)

WR: John Metchie, Alabama (Jr.)

TE: Charlie Kolar, Iowa State (Sr.)

OL: Evan Neal, Alabama (Jr.)

OL: Kenyon Green, Texas A&M (Jr.)

OL: Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa (Jr.)

OL: Darian Kinnard, Kentucky (Sr.)

OL: Thayer Munford, Ohio State (Sr.)

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon (So.)

DL: Haskell Garrett, Ohio State (Sr.)

DL: Bryan Bresee, Clemson (So.)

DL: DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M (Jr.)

LB: Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma (Jr.)

LB: Mike Rose, Iowa State (Sr.)

LB: Will Anderson, Alabama (So.)

CB: Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati (Jr.)

CB: Derek Stingley Jr., LSU (Jr.)

S: Brandon Joseph, Northwestern (So.)

S: Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame (Jr.)

FIRST-TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Cade York, LSU (Jr.)

P: Lou Hedley, Miami (Jr.)

RET: Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers (Jr.)

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SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Sam Howell, North Carolina (Jr.)

RB: Sincere McCormick, Texas-San Antonio (Jr.)

RB: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State (So.)

WR: Garrett Wilson, Ohio State (Jr.)

WR: Justyn Ross, Clemson (Jr.)

TE: Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M (Jr.)

OL: Jamaree Salyer, Georgia (Sr.)

OL: Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State (So.)

OL: Alec Lindstrom, Boston College (Sr.)

OL: Cain Madden, Notre Dame (Sr.)

OL: Jordan McFadden, Clemson (Jr.)

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Cade Hall, San Jose State (Jr.)

DL: Myles Murphy, Clemson (So.)

DL: Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan (Sr.)

DL: Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati (Sr.)

LB: Carlton Martial, Troy (Jr.)

LB: James Skalski, Clemson (Sr.)

LB: Devin Lloyd, Utah (Jr.)

CB: Tiawan Mullen, Indiana (Jr.)

CB: Josh Jobe, Alabama (Sr.)

S: Greg Eisworth, Iowa State (Sr.)

S: Nolan Turner, Clemson (Sr.)

SECOND-TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Anders Carlson, Auburn (Sr.)

P: Jake Camarda, Georgia (Sr.)

RET: Phillip Brooks, Kansas State (Jr.)

[java]

Great news for the Longhorns and Bijan!  That young man should have nothing but good things come his way.  
 

Granted I’ve never met him, but his smile literally lights up his face. I would think that it has the same effect on anyone around him. 

Hook ‘em, Bijan, and Hook ‘em, Horns!