The hype has been there all along for Auburn running back Jovon Robinson. The production had not been, until Auburn’s game against Ole Miss, that is.
Robinson, who has dealt with a nagging ankle injury throughout the season, led all rushers with 91 yards on 18 carries against the Rebels in his first action since the LSU game.
“We felt like Jovon– it was his opportunity,” said coach Gus Malzahn. “He’s back to getting healthy. He did a good job for us. He protected the football; he ran hard. I thought he had some good runs.”
After Robinson transferred from Georgia Military College prior to the season, he struggled in preseason practice, according to running backs coach Tim Horton.
“There’s a standard that we expect, on the field and off,” Horton said in August. “Early in camp, Jovon didn’t perform to that standard … He didn’t get off to a good start.”
Despite the missteps in fall practice, Robinson was on the field against Louisville, carrying twice for 16 yards before aggravating the ankle injury. After missing the Jacksonville State game, Robinson ran twice for four yards in the second quarter against LSU.
The former five-star recruit then went missing in action for four games, but with starter Peyton Barber limited by an undisclosed injury suffered against Arkansas, Robinson carried the load, and at times, Ole Miss defenders.
“He’s been preparing the whole season to get in and contribute to us,” said senior wide receiver Ricardo Louis. “For the most part, he did that today.”
Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was also impressed with the performance.
“I thought he played really well,” Lashlee said. “(He) had some really good, hard runs, good cuts, broke some tackles and, most importantly, held on to the football. He gave our run game a shot in the arm when we really needed it.”
With Robinson’s emergence, it remains to be seen how Auburn will distribute the workload between he and Barber, if healthy, along with fellow running backs Roc Thomas and Kerryon Johnson.
Lashlee said Auburn will need all hands on deck at running back as the Tigers move into the final third of their season.
“We’re comfortable with them all playing,” Lashlee said. “We won’t necessarily try to split it, per say … We’ve got four tough, physical games left, so we’ll need them all.”
Regardless of how the Auburn coaches decide to divvy up the carries going forward, Robinson has given them another strong option to consider.
The hype is no more. At long last, Jovon Robinson is here.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
