Pro Football Network writer Ian Cummings believes Wan'Dale Robinson could be a second- or third-round draft pick. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Wan’Dale Robinson set Kentucky football records total receptions and receiving yards in a single season this year and it was not a major surprise that he announced this week he was going to put his name into the NFL draft rather than return to UK for a second season. It seems like a logical move to me because coming back to UK for another year won’t make Robinson bigger or faster. It’s hard to see him doing anything to make his draft stock higher.
That’s why it surprised me a bit that a lot of UK football fans think Robinson is making a mistake and should come back for another season.
One fan thinks Robinson got “questionable advice” and compared Robinson’s skill set and body to that of former UK receiver Craig Yeast, the previous single-season receiving yardage leader. Yeast was a fourth-round draft pick who played two years in the NFL and then in the Canadian Football League.
Another fan thinks he needed to return to prove this season was “no fluke.” Former UK receiver Lynn Bowden told UK associate coach Vince Marrow he regretted leaving UK a year early and another fan thinks the same thing could happen to Robinson. Another fan worries about a lack of length and muscle mass.
Pro Football Focus has Robinson as the 12th best receiver in the draft — and a mid-third round pick.
Pro Football Network writer Ian Cummings says Robinson is a playmaker NFL scouts like because of his ability to create big plays. He wrote that Robinson has “elite agility as a runner who runs with his hips on a swivel.” He also cites his cutting ability along with his “twitch” to get defensive backs off-balance as major strengths.
“He uses his loose hips to levy cuts in the open field and manipulates tackling angles. His experience as an RB shows up consistently,” Cummings said.
Cummings is also not worried about Robinson’s toughness.
“He’s more dense than he appears to be. Additionally, he’s a solid run blocker for his size. He squares up defenders well and is willing to fight on blocks,” Cummings said.
He does worry about Robinson’s length and says his route-running will need to be more detailed. However, he believes Robinson is a Day 2 prospect — second or third round.
4 Responses
There is absolutely nothing Robinson could next year to improve his stock. He would run the risk of injury or maybe not have a good year. Lot of things he cannot control.
The only thing to improve his stock would be to grow to 6’2" and put on 40lbs. Those things are not going to happen.
Take the money and enjoy your life.
That "kill shot" he took in the 4th Q vs. Iowa where he held on and bounced up surely helped his NFL stock. Surely a 2nd rounder
I as a fan wish he was coming back to UK, but I don’t fault him one bit for declaring for the NFL draft. If anyone has the skill he does, go get the money.
Well. As for getting bad advice; I don’t think so. The year Wandell had is about as good as it can get and stay healthy. It’s not like Wandell will get any taller or stronger in another year. Marginally maybe. So, I agree – get the big money and move on. He had a great run while he was here. That said, it’s Wandell’s size that concerns me. He took a couple of big time shots this year and walked away on his own power. But in the NFL, every shot will be a big time shot. He will have to learn how to avoid or finesse those shots in the big show.