Big Cat Country
Get to know the Jaguars’ new additions from draft weekend with our ‘3 things to know’ series.
With the 2024 NFL Draft in the books, it’s time to reflect on how the Jacksonville Jaguars fared. Did Trent Baalke deliver a masterclass, or has he just set the Jags back five years? Truth is, we probably won’t know that for some time. But we can get to know the newest members of the team a little bit better. Next up in our mini-series of deep dives we bring you three things to know about Keilan Robinson, RB, Texas:
Versatility is a phrase that gets bandied around recklessly during draft season. Every prospect can do everything it seems, with very little evidence to back up their assertions. But in an industry where the hits get celebrated and the misses quickly forgotten, what is stopping analysts from getting carried away?
The good news is that Jaguars fans don’t have to believe this analyst when I say that Keilan Robinson is a multi-faceted playmaker. Instead, they can hear it directly from his former coach; Steve Sarkisian mentored Robinson at two stops, firstly as his offensive coordinator at Alabama before the running back followed his coach to Texas. It’s fair to say that ‘Sark’ was over the moon to see his protege find an NFL home in the fifth round - and offered a very complementary assessment of his former student:
“Jacksonville got a big-time playmaker at running back and on special teams in Keilan Robinson. 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 perimeter etc.”
“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.”
Trent Baalke always takes a running back in every draft, so seeing Robinson come off the board was no surprise. Stuck on a depth chart behind Travis Etienne,...
