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The 2022 Running Back Room: A Symbol of the Longhorns’ NFL Draft Revival

by:RT Young•04/28/25
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There’s a picture floating around the Longhorn interwebs which serves as a perfect summation for just how drastically Texas’ draft fortunes have changed. Just a few years ago, the fact Texas did not develop talent on campus into NFL players served as the mightiest headwind against recruiting. Now, Longhorn coaches and Steve Sarkisian can point to the 23 players drafted over the last two years and be swept away on a swift tailwind toward whatever player they want to wear burnt orange.

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And there is the aforementioned picture of the 2022 running back room snapped by a Texas fan. Maybe it was a sort of prophecy. It has now come true.

Bijan Robinson would have been an NFL A-lister regardless of where he went to school or what team he was drafted to, but he thankfully chose Texas. Credit former running back coach Stan Drayton for forming such a strong personal bond with Robinson. Then kudos to Bijan for staying at Texas and wanting to build a legacy when he could have easily bolted after his freshman season with Tom Herman. Bijan did NIL right, the way it was meant to function before the lack of structure doomed it. He cemented his name alongside other UT legends like Earl, Ricky, Cedric, and more with his Doak Walker Award win in 2022.

Can you imagine Herman’s feelings if he has seen this photo? If he is capable of admitting he was wrong, he has to lament the fact that if he had given the ball to Bijan more, he might have earned himself one more season in Austin. Now, Robinson is a star for the Atlanta Falcons and still has relatively low tread off his tires. He has a long career ahead of him.

Roschon Johnson was a John the Baptist figure like Sam Ehlinger. He paved the road for Texas players and teams who came after him. When there was no culture, RoJo brought one. He switched positions, he put the team on his back in multiple must-win situations.

I think there is a sweet lineage of fan favorites from Ehlinger to Johnson to Jordan Whittington to Jahdae Barron who all share a common DNA that inextricably ties them to Texas fans. Johnson is carving out a pretty nice career for himself in Chicago, but I hope they give him more to do in the coming seasons rather than just short-yardage plays.

Hey, maybe he will switch back to QB and bench Caleb Williams?

Keilan Robinson is the only Alabama transfer (besides Sark) that has worked out. Silas Bolden and Ryan Niblett seem to have been his spiritual successors in the locker room and on the call sheet. Robinson played in six games for the Jaguars last season, mostly as a special teams guy. I was so happy for him that he had that strong close to the 2023 season in the demolition of Texas Tech and the Big 12 Championship win.

Jonathon Brooks, a certified baller. When he was in high school at Hallettsville, he scored practically every time he touched the ball. When he was behind Robinson and Johnson, his touches were limited, but he scored practically every time he touched the ball. In 2023, he glided to 1,187 yards on 6.1 yards per carry. He and Arian Foster are the smoothest running tailbacks I have ever seen. His knee injury at the end of the 2023 season dampened the chances of a national championship significantly. Hurting that same knee again in his rookie season with Carolina is a tragedy. But Brooks is a triumphant figure. He faced adversity at Texas and endured. When I think of Brooks, I remember him suiting up in Arlington in order to be on the field for Texas’ victory formation against Oklahoma State. He should never be counted out.

Jaydon Blue as a Cowboy makes perfect sense.

His career as a Longhorn was the ultimate: no, No, NO, YES experience. Blue will make mistakes, he will lose yards, he might fumble, then he will house an 85-yarder when there was no space to run. For a decade, Longhorn teams were slow and unexplosive. Even the rare good ones like the 2018 team were not necessarily fun or entertaining. But Sark brought a renewal of speed and fun to Austin. Blue was part of that. Now, like his teammates from that legendary picture, he will represent the burnt orange on Sundays.

I hope this picture is affixed to Tashard Choice’s new refrigerator in Detroit.

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I hope this picture is living in new running backs coach Chad Scott’s pocket, ready to be busted out for the next great ball carrier who arrives on campus.

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