Texas has had some great running backs. Heisman winners Earl Campbell and Rick Williams lead the pack, but Jamaal Charles and Bijan Robinson aren't far behind. Robinson, the best UT back in the past decade, is still having a huge impact on Longhorns recruiting.
Robinson has now been in the NFL for three full seasons. Rounding into his prime, in 2025, the former Longhorn set the single-season rushing record for the Atlanta Falcons.
But the memory of Robinson running in Burnt Orange is still very fresh with many running back recruits. Two backs, one already enrolled at UT, and one commitment, have cited Robinson as a hero. That admiration has certainly helped coach Steve Sarkisian recruit.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson smiles while walking on the field before a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Oct. 4, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida.
On Friday, 2027 Chandler running back Noah Roberts committed to Sarkisian and the Longhorns program. New UT running backs coach Jabbar Juluke was instrumental in getting the 6-foot-1, 190-pound back to commit to Texas.
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But Roberts also cited fellow Arizonan Robinson as an inspiration. The Basha High School senior says he has spent years idolizing the Longhorn legend, calling Robinson “an inspiration.” Robinson went to Salpointe Catholic High School.
Salpointe's Bijan Robinson, left, plows his way over Pinnacle's Anthony Franklin (50) in the fourth quarter of the opening round of the state Open Division Playoffs in Tucson on Nov. 15, 2019.
"I'd say I try to model my game after Bijan. ... as in versatility-wise," he said. "I always grew up watching Bijan. He's like an inspiration to me. I like him."
Incoming Longhorns freshman running back Derrek Cooper is also an admirer of Robinson. The early-enrollee has even picked No. 5, Robinson's old number, as a tribute. Cooper's father said after the Chaminade-Madonna back committed to Texas that they see Cooper in a similar role as Robinson had at UT.
"They've talked about his skill set and compared his build to Bijan Robinson," Corey Cooper told ESPN. "They don't have a running back like Derrek right now. They feel like they can do a lot with him. He wants to run, he wants to be able to catch the ball out of the backfield, he wants to line up at wide receiver. He wants to show he has all the skills to play at the next level, and they're going to let him do that at Texas."
Sarkisian has been impressed with Cooper so far.
"What I like about him is, I've never felt our practice field is too big for him," Sarkisian said after a practice this spring. "He takes the ball, he runs. When he has an opportunity to make plays in the passing game, he does. He's a really versatile player that way."
Recruits generally have a short memory. No 16-year-old is going to commit to Texas because they love watching grainy videos of the Tyler Rose pushing Aggies around on YouTube. But Robinson's prowess at Texas is still recent enough that prospects remember his UT career. They remember how well a back like Robinson fit in Sarkisian's system, and the Longhorns are using it to their advantage.
