New York Giants select Kentucky receiver Wan'Dale Robinson in 2022 NFL Draft

The New York Giants are hoping that Kentucky receiver Wan’Dale Robinson can carry his collegiate success over to the NFL. Robinson proved himself as a playmaker both this past season with the Wildcats after spending the first two years of his career with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Now he is moving on to the NFL, as the Giants took him No. 43 overall in the draft on Friday.

After transferring to Kentucky this past offseason, Wan’Dale Robinson had a breakout campaign. In just one season at with the Wildcats, Robinson caught a team-high 104 passes and had 1,334 receiving yards, setting single-season school records. He had six 100-yard games in the 2021 season, which ranks second on Kentucky’s single-season list. He joins Randall Cobb as the only two receivers in school history to have 12 or more receptions in multiple games during their career and is the sixth player in SEC history to catch at least 100 passes in a season.

A former four-star recruit in the class of 2019, Robinson ranked as the No. 12 receiver and No. 54 player according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. He chose to attend Nebraska over offers from big-time schools such as Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State. Robinson’s playmaking ability was still on display in Lincoln as he ended his two-year career with 91 catches for 914 yards and three touchdowns. He was also utilized as a running back, totaling 580 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

Wan’Dale Robinson combine performance, scouting report

At the NFL Combine in March, Robinson showed off his speed by recording a time of 4.44 in the 40-yard dash. He also displayed his athleticism with a vertical of 34.5 inches (roughly 2.875 feet). Those numbers, coupled with his production in Lexington, have led ESPN analyst Todd McShay to list him as one of the top playmakers in the draft.

“Another 5-foot-8, sub-180-pound prospect, Robinson is a versatile slot receiver whose twitchiness and suddenness stand out on tape,” McShay wrote. “He can reach top speed in a split-second after making a cut. It’s wild to watch. And every time he touches the ball, the game seems to speed up. Robinson has easy speed, clocking 4.44 in the 40 at the combine. He is always in control and hits second gear in a flash. And he’s a true ankle-breaker in space. Robinson forced 26 missed tackles last season, tied for the sixth most among receivers.

“He made an impact as both a receiver and ball carrier at Kentucky, and he averaged 111.2 yards from scrimmage per game. He plucks the ball on the run as a receiver and transitions upfield smoothly. His quickness, burst, balance and vision stand out after the catch. In the vertical game, Robinson doesn’t have the size or length to dominate bigger, more physical cornerbacks, but he has the speed to run right past them. I think Robinson could be a valuable No. 3 receiver in the NFL, and I currently have him ranked at No. 72 overall (WR11).”