The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Keilan Robinson drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars
04.27.2024 | Football
Texas RB Keilan Robinson was selected in the fifth round with the 167th overall pick.
DETROIT – Texas running back Keilan Robinson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 167th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Robinson is the second Texas running back selected this year, joining Jonathon Brooks (Carolina Panthers) to mark the second-straight year the Longhorns have had two running backs picked in the draft (Bijan Robinson & Roschon Johnson, 2023). That is the first time in the history of the common era NFL Draft (since 1967) that the Longhorns have had two running backs selected in back-to-back drafts. It is just the fourth time overall in the common era of the NFL Draft that Texas has had two running backs selected in the same draft with the others occuring in 1989 (Eric Metcalf, Darron Norris) and 1982 (Rodney Tate, A.J. "Jam" Jones).
Robinson is the eighth Longhorn selected in this year's NFL Draft, the most since the draft went to seven rounds in 1994. That total also is the third-most through seven rounds of a draft in UT history (10, 1984 / 9, 1982). Texas now has six offensive players selected, which is the most ever for the Longhorns through seven rounds of an NFL Draft.
"Jacksonville got a big-time playmaker at running back and on special teams in Keilan Robinson," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. "He'll be an absolute do-it-all-threat for the Jaguars. Keilan was a critical addition when he came into our program. When he transferred from Alabama, he was the one guy that really had played for us and could help show the guys how we needed to do things. He knew our style of coaching, he knew the demanding style we had, but he also knew the relationship piece and how important it was, too. I think a big thing about Keilan as a player is his versatility. We used him a lot in the gadget type plays, getting him the ball on the parameter. He has elite speed so when he gets the ball in space, he's always a threat to go the distance to score. We saw that in the running game, the passing game and kickoff return game here, so his versatility and ability to do multiple things are key. He's tough, he'll pass protect and do all those types of things that create value for himself because of the versatility he provides. And with the new kick returns rules in the NFL, Keilan will be an awesome weapon in that role for the Jaguars too. I'm fired up for him and looking forward to seeing him in the NFL."
A three-year running back from Washington, D.C., Robinson appeared in 37 games with five starts. He tallied 542 yards on 82 carries (6.6 ypc) with six touchdowns out of the backfield and served as Texas' primary kick returner the last two seasons. Robinson averaged 24.2 yards per return during his career, the eighth-best mark in program history, while his 897 career kickoff return yards are ninth all-time for a Longhorn.
As a senior in 2023, Robinson returned 22 kickoffs for 494 yards (22.5 ypr) including a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Texas Tech that is tied for the tied for the ninth-longest in Texas history. In the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma State, he rushed four times for 75 yards and scored a career-best two touchdowns, including a 57-yard touchdown run against the Cowboys.
Robinson was named All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2022 as a return specialist by the league's coaches after returning 16 kickoffs for 403 yards (25.2 ypr). In 2021, he was selected Honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year after rushing 45 times for 322 yards (7.2 ypc) and three touchdowns.
A member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, Robinson graduated with a degree in communication and leadership.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
On being drafted by Jacksonville:
It feels great. It feels surreal. It's a blessing, and it really hasn't set in that I got drafted and I'll be in the NFL, but it's something I worked for my whole life, and I'm just thankful to be in a position for it all to happen. It's something I always dreamed of, and now it's here.
On the call and seeing the area code:
I was just on the couch with my brother watching the draft, and I saw the Jacksonville area code, and thought, 'Oh shoot,' and my heart dropped, and I thought this might be it. I was just hoping because I had gotten a few calls throughout the day, but I had my phone on mute because I didn't want a lot of calls. But when I saw the number pop up, I picked it up, and it was the Jags, and I knew what was about to happen. They gave me the news, and I was thinking this is it for real, but it still didn't feel real.
On if he had contact with them in the draft process:
Not a whole lot, I had talked to them a couple of times including like a week a go, but other than that, it kind of came out of nowhere, but I'm happy.
On being drafted with Jonathon Brooks and Texas having two running backs drafted in back-to-back years:
It feels good to see everyone at the next level and see that we all made it. It just shows the kind of players we've got at Texas and the kind of coaches we've got. Two years in a row with two running backs drafted, that's kind of unheard of. It's crazy, and it just shows the pedigree and the work that's been put in. We all expected to be in this position, and we all knew what we could do and the kind of coaching that we had and the kind of leadership, so it just goes to show you how things are at Texas.
On how well prepared he feels coming out of Texas:
I feel extremely prepared. I've been playing football my whole life, and I've been playing in college at a great school with great players and great coaches that was treated and led like a pro team in a lot of ways. I think it will be a seamless transition, and I feel very prepared.
On thanks to his Texas teammates and coaches:
Just thank you for always supporting me and embracing me, and I'm so happy we're all here.
On his message to Longhorn nation:
I'll always remember the times here. I love the school, I love the city, and I'm happy I came here. I'm very blessed to have come here and to have been embraced by the Longhorn nation, and I hope I can continue to make them proud at the next level.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
K-Rob is Jacksonville bound!@__keilan x @Jaguars x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/eIjxzQoxOl
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
ATX🤝JAX #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/dtaVP6AOF1
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
Yeet! Yeet! Speeeed! Special teams Demon! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼 pic.twitter.com/1To1pPHZhX
— Jeff Banks (@CoachJeffBanks) April 27, 2024
Yeet! Yeet! Speeeed! Special teams Demon! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼 pic.twitter.com/1To1pPHZhX
— Jeff Banks (@CoachJeffBanks) April 27, 2024
Keilan Robinson addresses the media.
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 27, 2024
📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN, ABC, ESPN@Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL https://t.co/Vf4zcRlaHA
All-purpose player!@Dream_Finders | @__keilan pic.twitter.com/yMCuCpfMPt
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 27, 2024
More speed on Day 3.@Dream_Finders | @__keilan pic.twitter.com/OEpX3AnSb6
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 27, 2024
