Mel Kiper Jr. on Keilan Robinson: 'You can't teach or coach what he brings'

Mel Kiper Jr. isn’t sleeping on Keilan Robinson. Last week, the NFL insider raved about the former Texas running back’s upside.

“When you’re as fast as he is and you have that versatility and you can help a team in a way other than just being a guy that has to be out there on the special teams return team — yeah, you can’t teach or coach what he brings in terms of that ability to change the game with the ball in his hand,” Kiper said.

In the 2023 campaign, Robinson recorded 12 carries for 134 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 11.2 yards per rushing attempt. Robinson also tallied eight receptions for 56 yards this past season.

While Robinson was a threat in the backfield, he was even more potent on the kick return. In 2023, Robinson returned 22 kickoffs for 494 yards, including a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. For his efforts, he was named Fourth-Team All-Big 12 as a kick returner by Phil Steele.

The Washington D.C. native’s 22 kickoff returns equaled the fourth-most in a season in program history while his 494 return yards ranked eighth.

Kiper wasn’t alone in his confidence about Robinson’s game. ESPN’s Field Yates claimed the 5-foot-9, 188-pound RB would be a steal in the later rounds of the draft. Kiper didn’t hesitate to agree.

“He will find a way on the field,” Kiper said. “They’ll find a way to get him the football on the offensive side. But certainly, now you’re talking about in the late rounds, when you get a kid in is the word ‘dangerous’ when he’s on the field in any capacity. I’m with you on that.”

Keilan Robinson only boosted his stock at the NFL Scouting Combine. He erupted for a 4.42-second 40-yard dash and a 10’5” broad jump. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein agrees Robinson is talented, but isn’t as confident about his potential at the next level.

“Robinson could be in a tough spot, as he will likely need to prove to teams that he can help in multiple areas in order to make a roster,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s a bendy runner with easy agility when the ball is in his hands. He might be considered too small to handle a backup role, and teams might question whether he has the physical traits for versatility on special teams.

“However, he’s good at what he does, which is eluding tacklers in space and creating opportunities as a pass catcher and kick returner. He’s talented, but might have a difficult task convincing teams that he can handle a variety of roles.”