Overview

It’s easy to say that Robinson has to move from quarterback to wide receiver at the next level due to a lack of accuracy. The better question is what position will suit him best in the NFL? The conversion of Antwaan Randle El (whose Big Ten quarterback rushing record Robinson broke) might be a better template for scouts to follow because his smooth running, vision and quickness could be used in the return game, at slot receiver, or in a hybrid running back/receiver position that Dexter McCluster held for Kansas City in 2011. But no matter if Robinson will be throwing or catching at the next level, at least a couple of general managers will value his athleticism enough to select him somewhere in the first two days of the draft.

Robinson, whose nickname is “Shoelace” because he plays with his shoes untied, was a four-star prospect from Florida as a dual-threat quarterback (4,784 yards passing, 1,132 rushing in his career) and track star (finished third in the Class 4A 100-meter dash at the 2008 Florida state meet). He played in all 12 games at quarterback as a true freshman (14-for-31, 188 yards, two TD, four INT) in concert with starter Tate Forcier, with one start at running back (69 rushes, 351 yards, five TD). Forcier attempted a pass to Robinson in 2009, but it fell incomplete.

Robinson took over the starting role from Forcier (who eventually transferred) in 2010, and won the Big Ten Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Association of America All-American notice (as a running back) for his play. He became the first player in NCAA history to throw for more than 2,500 yards (2,570) and rush for 1,500 yards (1,702) in a single season, ranked second in the country in all-purpose yards, second in rushing yards, and 20th in the nation in pass efficiency (62.5 percent completion rate, 18 TD, 11 INT) while leading the Wolverines to the Gator Bowl. Statistically, Robinson’s second year as a starter in 2011 wasn’t quite as successful (1,176 rushing yards, 2,173 passing), but he was named honorable mention all-conference by league coaches and was responsible for more touchdowns (20 passing, 16 rushing against 18 and 14 in 2010) and helped the team to an 11-2 record, which included an upset of Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

For his senior season, nagging injuries to Robinson allowed Devin Gardner to step into the quarterback role. As a result, the Michigan staff began using Denard in more creative ways, prepping him for his future as a multi-purpose threat in the NFL. He finished the year with 177 rushing attempts for 1266 yards (a career high 7.2 yards per carry), ending the season with a strong performance as the team’s lead running back in their bowl game against South Carolina (23-100-1 TD)

Analysis