STARKVILLE — Josh Robinson knows some observers believe he made a mistake by declaring for the NFL draft.
The former Mississippi State running back doesn’t care.
“I’ve heard I’m too small, too slow,” said Robinson, who led MSU with 1,203 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. “I tell everybody to turn on the film, take a look at what they see and tell me if that’s too slow. In the game, I’m plenty fast enough.”
A 5-foot-9, 230-pound tailback known as “Bowling Ball,” Robinson averaged 6.33 yards per carry in 2014, helping MSU win its first nine games and become the nation’s top-ranked team for a five-week stretch.
Rushing for more than 100 yards in four of MSU’s first seven games, Robinson put himself in position to face a crucial decision about the NFL after MSU’s 10-2 regular season. On the day of MSU’s first Orange Bowl appearance in 73 years, Robinson announced on Twitter he was entering the NFL draft.
With the first round of the draft Thursday, Robinson is comfortable with his choice.
“I am going to make the most of it,” Robinson said. “It just takes one team to like me. I am confident in my ability, and it’s my dream to play professional football. I’m ready to take my shot.”
Not everyone is as confident.
After MSU’s final regular season game against Ole Miss, the Franklinton, Louisiana, native filled out paperwork to receive feedback from NFL scouts about his potential draft stock. While even he admits the report “wasn’t that good,” he still opted to turn pro.
“That doesn’t scare me,” he said. “It’s time to put my feet in the water and show the NFL what I do. I changed the game coming into high school and college, and now it’s time to change the game in the NFL.”
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock slots Robinson as a potential undrafted free agent. Sports Illustrated lists him as the No. 12 tailback in the class, behind well-known names like Georgia’s Todd Gurley and Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon. Last season, 15 tailbacks were drafted.
Robinson has received plenty of attention even though projections don’t suggest he will be a high-round pick. At MSU’s Pro Day on March 18, Robinson met with five NFL teams. Since then, he has visited the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, and others.
Those who witnessed Robinson transform from a soft-spoken freshman into an ebullient leader in Starkville believe his future remains bright.
“Josh is going to make it,” said Ladarius Perkins, who Robinson succeeded as MSU’s starting tailback. “All of the talk with the draft, it really doesn’t matter. The 40-yard time, the cone drills, that stuff is overrated. When you talk about on-the-field results, Josh has everything you want. He has great vision. He can cut. He’s got that low center of gravity and those guys do well in the NFL. I think he will play in the league for a long time.”
Robinson believes his ability to take the next step means he has to improve in some areas and accentuate others.
“I think my skills will translate well,” Robinson said. “What you see is what you get. And I think what you get is pretty good.”
MSU coach Dan Mullen said part of the fun with Robinson was he was hard to tackle on the field and similarly hard to wrangle off it.
“He is a great guy to be around,” Mullen said. “He is a lot of fun to be around because he is always smiling and upbeat. He is mature with that as well. When the time comes, he is going to focus and get his job done while still having that great personality that lifts everyone up around him.”
Robinson doesn’t expect to get drafted in the first round. He also acknowledges he could have to try to make a team as an undrafted free agent, but that hasn’t scared him one bit or caused him to regret his decision.
“I look at it like this is my time,” Robinson said. “If I get drafted, it’s my time. If I have to be a free agent, that’s fine, too. I will do whatever it takes.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.