Now that the ‘elbow’s awesome,’ Texas running back Bijan Robinson is ready for more

Over the winter, Bijan Robinson broke loose from that oversized metal arm brace, spun away from doctors and stiff-armed anyone who told him to take it slowly. 

The Texas running back was happy to announce Thursday that he’s charging full speed into the 2022 season.

“Things have been great,” Robinson said with that unmistakable smile.

What about the dislocated elbow? “You definitely know about the elbow. Elbow’s awesome.”

And spring practice? “Practice, obviously, has been way better,” he said. “You never have a down period to catch your breath or anything. So we're just all having fun and having a good time.”

Robinson doesn’t have too many negative bones in his body. Just some with misalignment.

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In the third quarter against Kansas last season, Robinson got stopped in the backfield near the goal line. The electric speedster grabbed his arm and then left the field with a dislocated elbow. His season was done.

“I never really got, you know, injured before,” Robinson said. “When it happened, it was unexpected. I was trying to pop it back in so I could keep playing, but obviously I couldn't.”

At the time he was injured, Robinson had rushed for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was on pace to finish among the top 15 rushers nationally. Instead, he missed the fourth quarter and overtime of the dramatic loss to Kansas, along with the next two games.

In two seasons, Robinson has 1,830 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns. He should become the 20th player in school history to break 2,000 career yards this season and possibly move into the top 10 by November.

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Now going into his third (and probably last?) season, Robinson is the veteran leader everyone looks to for guidance and inspiration. In the past, he would yield to players such as Sam Ehlinger or Casey Thompson in the locker room. Not anymore, though. 

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian wants Robinson — the player who wants everybody to get along ­— to have a more vocal presence. 

“I think it’s been good for him,” Sarkisian said last week. “We did some different things in winter conditioning to try to empower more leaders on the team — Bijan being one of those guys. I think pretty much all those guys embraced that role.”

So it makes sense that Robinson would be asked his opinion on the quarterback race. 

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Asked about transfer Quinn Ewers, Robinson said, “He’s a great kid. He's still trying to learn his way around just the city, the team, the offense. … Even in the morning, he’s always happy. And I’m happy with him. You know, he’s a good kid. When he gets comfortable, he’ll really show what he can do.”

Robinson is playing for a new position coach, Tashard Choice, this spring. The former NFL running back is full of energy.

“Everybody could feel his presence out there because he’s going to be the loudest one out there,” Robinson said. “But on top of that, he's going to teach you everything you need to know.”

Robinson truly loved Stan Drayton, the running backs coach who recruited him but left UT to become the head coach at Temple. Drayton “was more of a technician,” Robinson said. But with Choice, “we had a great conversation about everything,” he said.

Robinson and Choice talk daily about Scripture and how their faith influences everything.

Robinson has faith in Sarkisian and this offense, too. No matter whether Ewers or Hudson Card wins the quarterback job, Robinson is convinced there will be enough opportunities for everyone — for himself and Roschon Johnson, receivers Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington, and the tight ends.

“All five or six of us can just change the game at any point, and that’s what Coach Sark’s been looking for,” Robinson said. “That’s what he's been wanting to do with this offense this whole time, and now that he has it, we’re showing it.”

Nothing can slow Robinson down, and nobody’s going to hold him back, either. We should all be so lucky.

“And practice has been way more fun just seeing what we can do,” he said.

Contact Brian Davis by phone or text at 512-445-3957. Email bdavis@statesman.com or follow on Twitter via @BDavisAAS.