Expect Tayvion Robinson to have versatile role in Kentucky's NFL offense

The NFL sell was huge for Tayvion Robinson as the former Virginia Tech wide receiver decided to transfer to Kentucky. However, the senior will now be playing in a different pro offense prototype.

After Liam Coen left Kentucky after just one season to become Sean McVay’s offensive coordinator, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops named San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello the next play-caller for the Wildcats. There will still be an NFL playbook utilized at UK, but one with a different twist out of the wide zone based offensive philosophy.

When Robinson turned on the tape, there was one player for the 49ers who stood out quickly.

“Deebo Samuel,” Robinson told the media on Tuesday at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. “A lot of the stuff he did in San Fran was unbelievable and very impressive. I think a good mix of LA [Rams] and San Francisco [49ers] is going to be good for us.

That mix could create a lot of wrinkles in the running game. With the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan built a complex rushing attack that the NFC West franchise would utilize to give opponents multiple looks in the ground game as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was limited as a passer when throwing outside the hashmarks. The result in 2021 was a historic year for Samuel.

The former second-round pick out of South Carolina was an All-Pro performer in year three who recorded 77 receptions to go with 59 rush attempts. Samuel rushed for eight touchdowns while also serving as WR1 in San Francisco. The 49ers would get the ball to the explosive wideout on jet sweeps, screens, and would even ask him to line up at tailback running multiple concepts with the positionless football player.

Robinson might have a similar skill set.

In three seasons in the ACC, Tayvion Robinson reeled in 113 receptions as the former top-500 recruits developed into a very dependable slot receiver. However, the punt returner has always had playmaking ability. To get him involved early in his Virginia Tech career, offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen would unleash schemed designs to give Robinson the ball on handoffs. In total, the wideout recorded 227 yards on 29 rushes in his career averaging just under eight yards per pop.

Getting the ball to Robinson in creative ways could allow Scangarello to make this Kentucky offense more dynamic.

“We’re always evolving,” Scangarello said. “I think — all the fly motions, the Deebo run packages — those were a product of guys getting hurt or things like that and putting your best players in a position and to have flexibility in your offense. That’s what we’ll do here as well.

Players over plays seems to be the philosophy for this new Kentucky offense. Expect the new regime to lean into the personnel’s strengths and do what is best for the Kentucky offense. Part of that could be finding unique ways to get Tavion Robinson the football.

“I feel like we’ve done some of the stuff that they’ve done in San Francisco with Deebo,” said Robinson.