Mike Gundy declares Bijan Robinson a first-round pick

No. 11 Oklahoma State will play host to No. 20 Texas this weekend, looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season. To do so, they’ll have to stop running back Bijan Robinson, a potential first-round pick.

At least, that’s the assessment of coach Mike Gundy when it comes to the Longhorns bell-cow back.

“See they got the guy that’s playing, No. 5 I think’s his number, good player they have down there at running back,” Gundy said. “And if you look at some of him early in his career, he’s a whole different guy now than he was when he was a freshman. Just maturity.

“I mean he’s a first-round pick now.”

Robinson has led the Texas ground game, averaging 5.7 yards per carry and logging 780 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing already this season.

He’s also a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield, adding 16 catches for 239 yards and another touchdown as a receiver. He’s not the only threat, but Gundy’s lofty praise is probably an indicator the Cowboys will spend a little extra effort this weekend trying to find a way to slow him down.

But Gundy listed off several offensive threats Oklahoma State will have to be aware of if the Cowboys hope to get back in the win column.

“(Robinson’s) a good player. The other back they put in there (Roschon Johnson) is a good player,” Gundy said. “The quarterback (Quinn Ewers) obviously flips it around pretty good. (Xavier Worthy) is dynamic. (Worthy) is a threat wherever he is, whenever. Catching it, running it, throwing it. He can do a lot of things. (Ja’Tavion Sanders) is a unique player for them. (Sanders) is a hybrid tight end. They use him in the blocking game some, but he runs and plays like a wideout. So they use him doing some different things. He’s a good player.”

Bijan Robinson a first-round pick?

OK, the question mark there was probably a gratuitous addition. By almost all accounts, Gundy’s assessment that Bijan Robinson is a first-round pick is dead on.

All three CBSSports.com NFL Draft experts have Robinson in their current 2023 mock drafts (at pick No. 15, pick No. 25 and pick No. 30).

Meanwhile, ESPN’s four prominent NFL Draft analysts — Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Jordan Reid and Matt Miller — all have Robinson as the top prospect at running back for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Suffice it to say Robinson can play.

Oklahoma State will find out just how well on Saturday. The two teams will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET with a broadcast on ABC.