Roderick Robinson II is UCLA bound and ready for it
SAN DIEGO (BVM) 鈥� Roderick Robinson II rushed for 1,273 and 17 touchdowns last year. He led Lincoln High School in rushing yards and touchdowns while helping the Hornets make it to the CIF Division 1 State Championship. However, Robinson was playing on only one ankle most of the season.听
鈥淟ast year, I played on a sprained ankle so now that I鈥檓 healthy, I feel great,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淣ow I鈥檓 able to show off my skill set, do a little bit more than I was able to do last year.鈥�
Through five games, he has almost eclipsed his junior season numbers. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound back has 84 rushes for 1,096 yards and 16 touchdowns. That includes a stellar 476-yard, eight-touchdown outing against Mater Dei Catholic.听
鈥淚 was just locked in the whole day,鈥� Robinson said about his mindset before the Mater Dei game.听
It was a Saturday game with a packed house and Robinson didn鈥檛 disappoint. He credits his offensive line and wide receivers for blocking so well for him and by halftime, he already had 145 rushing yards. When the second half started, the defense was tired from Robinson鈥檚 hard running and the blocking from the other Hornets.
鈥淚 was running through open holes,鈥� Robinson said.听
A fully healthy Robinson has been a danger to any defense that goes up against him. His mind is completely focused on football and putting on a good performance for his team. It was the same mentality he had last season and even though he wasn鈥檛 100 percent, he could still contribute.听
鈥淚f I was able to go and help my team win the game then by all means I was out there playing,鈥� Robinson said.听
Now he鈥檚 contributing but not worried about a bad ankle, which is terrifying for opposing teams since Robinson was still able to rush for over 1,000 yards even with a bad ankle.听聽
鈥淭hat was the biggest thing for me,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 worried about my ankle hurting anymore and I was able to go out there and play ball and really showcase my full skill set.鈥澛�
Watching Roderick Robinson () reminds me of watching fellow San Diegan Ricky Williams. Big, strong and FAST! Check out these runs for against St. Bonaventure. Good win for Lincoln tonight.
— Troy Hirsch (@troyhirschfox5)
The skill set has college coaches extremely interested in the running back. Robinson committed to UCLA this summer after he had whittled down his choices to Auburn, Cal, Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Arizona.听
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly spent time coaching in the NFL and running backs coach DeShaun Foster had a successful NFL career as a running back. The fact that they both know what it takes to make it to the NFL meant a lot to Robinson.听
鈥淎s long as I can remember, I鈥檝e always wanted to play in the NFL,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淚 grew up playing football since I was 5.鈥澛�
He then was placed at running back from a young age. Robinson鈥檚 dad had been a running back and a wide receiver when he played. Also, as Robinson says, he has the body of a running back. That 6-foot-1, 230-pound frame is not something defenders want to try and tackle.听
The dream is what Robinson has been working towards for a long time and when he received his first Division I offer from San Diego State as a sophomore, it lit a fire in him to work harder.听
Robinson has been working hard to become the best all-purpose back he can be. This past summer, he emphasized speed training. He has the body of a bruising running back and now after he breaks through a few tackles, he is burning past defensive backs on his way to the endzone.听
鈥淚 put in countless hours to make sure I can鈥檛 get caught from behind,鈥� Robinson said聽 鈥淟ast year with that hurt ankle, I didn鈥檛 really have that ability to showcase my breakaway speed.鈥�
This year it definitely shows. Robinson is well on his way to his goal of 2,000 yards and is one of the top rushers in the country. The Hornets are firing on all cylinders now and with their chemistry getting them into true midseason form, the whole team is ready for another state championship run.
