Bijan Robinson has a chance to earn a bunch of different honors at this year’s NFL Draft. He can bank on being the first running back taken—and that will most likely happen during Thursday’s first round, but there’s no guarantee with any of this stuff, particularly when it comes to running backs. And if he goes in the top ten that’ll mark somewhat of a renaissance for the modern running game. A running back has not been selected with a top-ten pick since 2018, which was also the last time a running back was selected with a top-20 pick.
Robinson has a chance to change all that, just like he helped change the tone of college athletics forever. His three years as a local legend at the University of Texas overlapped with the flowering of name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsement opportunities. He capitalized on the change by, among other things, slinging a condiment called—yes—Bijan Mustardson.
Before he learns his NFL fate at the draft, Robinson sat down with GQ to discuss life in Austin as a star of the Longhorn football team, the movie star sending him iMessages, and just how bonkers things can get in the lead-up to the draft.
The pre-draft process can get pretty hectic. What have you been doing to stay sane?
I’ve just been hanging out and chilling. I watch a lot of movies and TV shows, I’m in my devotions a lot, been going to concerts. In the past month or so I’ve seen SZA, I saw Anderson .Paak. That dude has energy! He went from the piano to the drums to the saxophone. He was going crazy with it.
You’re in the very weird position of knowing that you’ll have to move soon without knowing exactly where that’ll be—just packing up and starting a new life in whatever city drafts you. Is that more nerve-wracking or exciting for you, the uncertainty of it all?
You really don’t know where you’re going to go. I’ve met with like 17 or 18 teams. But it’s super exciting. I’m about to go to a new city! Getting to experience all that stuff, seeing a new team and a new area, seeing how the culture is, that’s all really exciting. But at the same time, I am a little nervous.
You also just went through one of the more unique and specific experiences in all of sports: the NFL Combine. Apart from the weirdness of the actual event, which is basically working out in your underwear, was it kind of surreal realizing that being there meant your career is about to take off?
It’s really more of a mental week than it is physical. You’re trying to understand how everything works in the NFL—you’re meeting so many people and starting so many relationships. It’s pretty cool to see how it all works. Having teams get a chance to know who I am—rather than hearing about who I am from other people or online, actually getting a chance to talk to me and see how I move off the field. It’s a long week. There’s medical things you have to do. You gotta talk to coaches. There’s certain tests you have to take. Then you still have to work out! So, the on-field stuff is the easy part for me. [The stuff] leading up to it is more of a difficult challenge.
But it was a fun process. When I got there—even just seeing all the different NFL jerseys and certain coaches from when you were little—it makes you think. Like, man, this is a real thing! I’m about to really be in the NFL. You’re in the moment. Eyes all over you. There’s a lot of people watching you! It kind of gives you assurance when the scouts are all watching, hopefully they’re impressed too. People say that’s pressure, but it’s really more fun [than anything].
All the running back drills, those are my favorite, and getting to run routes. You have running back coaches on the field with you taking you through the drills. You get to hear what they say as soon as you’re done with the drills. Getting complimented, but also hearing what I could work on, it’s pretty tight.
Do you remember on Madden when they used to have those little mini-games? Is that what working out at the combine felt like?
I don’t know why they took that away! That’s literally what it was like.
I used to kill it in the running back drill with Shaun Alexander.
What was your 40 time? It was hard! Remember, you’d have to move both joysticks to run? I’d get like a 4.8.
Why’d you choose not to work out at the Texas pro day?
Our pro day was two days after the combine. I had just gotten done doing the on-field stuff there. Me and my agent talked, and they were like, “You don’t need to do the pro day. You killed the combine, so just go out there to support the guys and keep building a relationship with the scouts.” We’re trying to keep me safe and keep my body right. That’s ultimately where the decision came from.
Do you understand why teams don’t like using high draft picks on running backs anymore?
I can understand where they’re coming from. But I think this position should start to gain value. You have a lot of guys that can do everything on the field, and that’s what I pride myself on. You can line me up in the slot, you can line me up at receiver, at running back, and I’ll be just as effective. When you have guys that can do that and really help an offense—even if you’re in an offense that doesn’t necessarily need you to do that—you’re still the outlet, and you’ll steal focus from the pass game as well. It should be valued the right way.
I know I’ve kind of been in the middle of talk about that type of stuff. I understand what they’re talking about, but I think you have to give a chance to guys who can be super versatile, the guys who can create mismatches in space against anybody. That’s why I think the position should be valued way higher than it is.
Even now, you have to run the ball to win the game. Teams are trying to get defensive ends that run 4.4 or 4.5 [forty-yard dashes]. They’re getting to the quarterback like that. Defensive backs are running 4.2 or 4.3, so they’re just as fast on the perimeter. If you have a guy that can run the ball, I feel like those are the teams that ultimately win the most games, like the Eagles. When you have run games that are just as effective as the pass game, that’s when you’re rolling.
What running backs have you been compared to the most?
Teams don’t really compare me to anyone. But from media outlets, I’m compared to LaDainian Tomlinson, Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley, all those types of guys. I get it. All those guys are really dynamic. But I’m trying to be the guy that other guys get compared to when they come into the league. I understand where the comparisons come from. Those are all absolutely amazing guys to be in the same conversation as, but I want to build a legacy like those guys are doing.
The list of great running backs to come out of Texas is incredible: Earl Campbell, Priest Holmes, Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, Jamaal Charles. Do you feel like Texas is Running Back U?
Absolutely I do. The running back coach that we have, Coach [Tashard] Choice, he has the number-one running backs for the next three years too. So running backs are starting to see that Texas is the school to be at. There’s so many great guys who came through here, and they all come back to support you as well. I think that’s what’s important, as a player first off, but also as a guy who wants to accomplish something like those guys have.
Seeing my stats compared to them, it tells me it was the right decision to be here. A lot of prayer took me to Texas. Being from Arizona, there was USC, UCLA, all the west coast schools pushing hard. But I think that Texas was more like a 40-year decision, in terms of relationships, education, and if you do something great in Texas, how much support you’ll have.
Texas has one of the biggest stadiums in college football. That very first game after the pandemic was completely sold out—106,000 people in the stands, it was insane to see that. Even pregame, it was mostly full. I was a little nervous! But running out of the tunnel, your adrenaline just goes and the excitement rises up. It was crazy, man.
Yeah, the Longhorn football experience seems like it’d be a ton of fun. How much is Matthew McConaughey involved in the program?
That’s my guy, man. Me and him are close as it gets. [He’s involved], but he’s not like, at practice.
I want to be an actor one day, so we developed an even closer relationship. I’ve been to his house and met his family. We talk all the time. He’s definitely a big mentor for me, and still to this day.
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How long has acting been on your mind?
Probably since, like, the end of middle school. I tried to do theater, and I took a couple classes. But football—I did 7-on-7 during the offseason, so I’d always have to miss the plays to go to a tournament or a camp or something like that—but I tried to be around just to see everything and how it all worked.
Sounds like a High School Musical situation.
Literally!
You were also one of the true pioneers of the NIL generation. Tell me about Bijan Mustardson, the touchdown in your mouth. Do you use it? What do you put it on?
Two guys came to me and said they wanted to make that a big thing. It was just an idea, now it’s one of the bigger condiments going around the country. Bro, I’m telling you, it is good. You can put it on anything. I put it on salmon. I’ll even just put it on crackers, like Club crackers. It’s huge on pretzels. The merch is super tight. It’s all pretty high end, I’m not going to lie.
And you had a deal with Raising Cane’s. Does that get you free food there?
I mean, at the one here in Austin, they’ll kind of just give me the free food. But I’m pretty sure there’s a card you can use. I don’t go too much because I’m trying to eat a certain way. But if it’s just a snack, the people here are like, ‘You got it, bro.’
Got it—I didn’t know if it was like the Chipotle gold card that gets you free Chipotle at any location. Do you know about that?
Yup, that is something we’ll work out. Chipotle is my favorite place.
I’ve learned that athletes really love Chipotle!
It’s healthy. Chipotle has my heart.
What were the perks of the Lamborghini deal?
The guys at Lamborghini Austin came to my marketing guy and said we should do something. I contacted them with the idea to do something big and make this deal come to life. That was obviously something that had never happened before [in college sports]. When it happened, we put it on the internet after signing the deal, and it obviously went viral instantly. With that deal, they give you a car. I’m driving a silver Urus, the SUV. I’m not even really much of a car guy. I don’t have a lot of answers for you. But that is a super cool deal to have, especially when you get something as luxurious as that.
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What are you going to spend the first NFL check on?
I have to pay my tithes. That’s where the church piece of me comes in. But then, I don’t know, bro. I’ll probably get a house. Something nice. It’ll just be me by myself, so nothing huge. A modern, small house that’s also super nice at the same time. Probably three bedrooms.
When did the NFL start to feel like a real possibility?
Sophomore year of high school, after I really started getting [college] offers and started to talk with a lot of coaches. They were saying, ‘Hey man, if you do it the right way and come in with the right mentality and drive, you can make the NFL and be great.’ Now that we’re here…it’s crazy.
What was your favorite game from college?
Shoot, the Oklahoma game from this past year. I mean yeah, we blew ‘em out, it was 49-0. Being such a big part of that game [with 130 yards and two touchdowns] and seeing the crowd. The atmosphere—there’s like 108,000 people in the stands, Texas on this side and OU on this side—and at the end of the game you see all the Texas fans still there and nobody left on their side. That game was insane.
The best game that I played was the Kansas game. [Robinson had 243 rushing yards and four touchdowns]. Every time I touched the ball, something amazing was about to happen. God’s gift just came upon me. Those are the games that were the most fun.
What about a favorite run?
During my freshman year, my breakout game was against West Virginia. It was a counter play, and I went backdoor, made a spin and another move, stiff armed two dudes, one of the craziest plays I’ve been a part of. I dragged one dude for, like, five yards. It was wild. That was the play that started my college career.
What kind of fit can we expect to see on draft night?
There’s three different options. We already got them picked out, got the sizes and everything. They’re all fire, too. I went big. I feel like you have to. But I’m more of a neutral color kind of guy. They have nice designs to it. There’s definitely some style and some flavor. The guy who I was with, I forgot his name but he’s a celebrity tailor.
Are you a jewelry guy?
I’m not a big watch guy, but I got a chain from Leo Jewelers. He’s a big time jewelry guy: chains, grills, earrings. So I got a chain, and I really don’t even wear chains! It has my initials on there, two crosses, ‘cause I needed a godly piece. I’mma go with that and two cross earrings.
When you picture draft day in your mind, what do you see?
There’s obviously going to be some nerves when I wake up. It’ll probably be hard to sleep. But the moment is really with your family, seeing how they react to everything that’s happening. My mom, my grandparents, my auntie, seeing their facial expressions throughout the day is what I’m looking forward to the most. And being at the table when you get that call. Finally seeing who that call is going to be from, knowing that’s who you’re going to, that’ll be a movie.
I don’t know what reaction I’ll have. I could cry, I could not. I could just be super excited. But something is going to come out. We’re about to see.
This interview has been edited and condensed
