GET TO KNOW THE REESE’S SENIOR BOWL’S TOP 2022 PROSPECTS

 

Beyond X's and O's with Brian Robinson Jr, Alabama RB

 

What is your biggest motivator?

• “I am mostly motivated by the history. The running back prospects that have come to The University of Alabama before me. The guys that have dreamed of getting an opportunity to come here and play for multiple national championships is something I always to look at as motivation. To be able to start for this team gives me a lot to be motivated by. I’m also motivated by my family. My mom has always pushed me so hard to do what I want to do and do it the right way.”

Growing up in Tuscaloosa, who were some of your favorite Alabama players as a kid?

• “My favorites players are from around when Glen Coffee was here. The class that after his had Javier Arenas, Julio Jones, and Mark Ingram – players from that 2009 National Championship. Those are some of my favorite players from when I actually started watching Alabama football.”

What is your day-to-day routine?

• “When I get up in the morning I come up to the facility and get treatment and do some extra stuff around here to just make sure I am prepared. I make sure that my body is feeling good and ready for practice. I spend the whole day pretty much up here at the building just getting myself ready for whatever it is I have to do for the day. If it’s practice, I spend time in the training room and hot and cold tub to make sure I feel okay. After practice, I have some schoolwork to do. I try to get all my schoolwork done by 8 or 9 o’clock. When I’m finished with my schoolwork for the day, I will probably play ‘Madden’ or ‘Call of Duty: War Zone’ for an hour or so before I go to bed. I pretty much do the same thing every day.”

Who is your role model?

• “Someone I truly look up to and watch the way he carries himself, especially right now with a humble spirit, would be Derrick Henry.”

What is your favorite college football memory?

• “My favorite memory would be one of two. My first opportunity to get a chance to get on the field and play for Alabama against Vanderbilt my freshman year. I had five carries and 50 yards, and I scored my first touchdown in the first game I touched a college football field. That was a big memory for me – I averaged 10 yards per carry and a touchdown in my first game playing college football. My second favorite memory would be when Tua threw to Smitty to win the national championship my freshman year.”

How hard was it believing in your own talent being behind Najee the last few years? What was your mindset?

• “I had to stop worrying about what someone was doing beside me and the success that came with their lives. I had to stop worrying about the opportunities other people were getting. I had to focus up on what I needed to do to prepare myself for whenever my opportunity came. So, my mindset was just, regardless of the situation or regardless of how the cards that were dealt to me right now, I got to be where my feet are and play my role to the fullest. All I could do is prepare for whenever my time came, so I just continued to work hard, train hard, and prepare myself like I was going to get the same opportunities so that whenever my number was called, it wouldn’t be surprise, I would be completely ready for whatever comes with the opportunity.”

How did you prepare coming into this season being the number 1 guy for the first time?

• “I can say it was a little different because I knew I was going to take on a much bigger role. I had to train my body and mind to be able to take on a massive workload. Whatever it ended up being, I just had to train so hard. I had to go 5 to 10 times harder to step up to that role.”

What are you most looking forward to the rest of the season?

• “I’m just really looking forward to seeing this team grow and build, continuing to come together and learning how to be a great team and learning how to go out and play for each other. I just want to make a run and have fun with the guys and make sure everyone is enjoying it together – going out and laying it all on the line for their brothers – just finishing strong.”

Who is the best player you have ever played against?

• “The best player I’ve ever played against is probably Nick Chubb. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel were on that Georgia team we played against my freshman year. That’s hard, though, because I don’t play on the defensive side of the ball, so I didn’t actually go against him. The best defensive player I’ve ever played against would be Derwin James from Florida State or Devin White from LSU.”

Is there a running back in the NFL that you try to model your game after?

• “I think my guy is classic Adrian Peterson.”

You embody what it means to be an Alabama running back. How do you view yourself in terms of being the physical tone setter for your offense?

• “My physical presence is just always going to be there. I plan to match everyone’s weight that I play against. It doesn't matter if it’s a defensive lineman, I plan on matching that weight physically. If I can have 10 other guys around me with that same mindset, I think there is no possible way that we can’t beat very physical teams. My presence as a running back allows everyone else around me to be just as physical in their own ways and have someone like me behind them that can bring the same type of physical mindset.”

Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy talks a lot about your run style. He says you run angry. What is your mindset before the game and how are you able to get there?

• “It doesn’t take much for me to get to that mindset. Once I think about my opportunity and where my feet are, I think of how I want to play for my team – that is the only way I can think about playing. I always look like I am angry, but I’m not, that’s just my style of play. That is the way I feel like I should play, how I can be most effective and provide great momentum on my side of the ball.”

If you could bring one teammate to the NFL with you, who would it be?

• “Markail Benton because we really connected on another type of level. We connected like brothers – I look to him like family. I also know that in his position, he might not have the same type of opportunities that I might have, but as far as our story and how we came up in life. Because of our journeys, he is definitely someone I would like to have with me.”

You’re stuck on a deserted island with three teammates – who are they?

• “It would be Cam Latu because that is my game partner. We could play video games all day if it came down to it. I know we could hangout all day and joke and laugh and just have good time with it. I would also have Bryce Young because if we get in a serious situation, I might need him to talk us out of some stuff. He would be our politician. Then Will Anderson because he has a mindset like me. We will be ready for whatever. He is going to always lay it on the line for his brothers.”