Texas RB Bijan Robinson suffering from strained back

As Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman noted on Monday, everything is a first for a true freshman making the transition to college.

For running back Bijan Robinson on Saturday, that meant the first attempt to hurdle a defender.

“Didn’t didn’t go near as well as it normally went at Salpointe High School in Tucson, Arizona,” Herman said. “And so, you know, lesson learned.”

In the third quarter against Texas Tech, senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger found Robinson on a check down in the right flat. As Robinson approached Red Raiders graduate transfer linebacker Jacob Morgenstern, Robinson left his feet in attempt to jump over Morgenstern. The problem, as it quickly became apparent, was that Morgenstern hadn’t left his feet to target Robinson’s lower body, producing a scary fall for the former consensus five-star prospect, who landed on his head.

Herman called it “one of the most awkward falls I’ve seen,” and said that his stomach was in his throat for a little bit, descriptions that accurately describe what the majority of people who saw the play live or on replay experienced.

“I don’t know medically how he is okay after that, after seeing the still shots of it, but probably a testament to his athleticism and fluidity,” Herman said.

Credit Robinson’s obvious flexibility, as well.

Fortunately, Robinson was able to get up under his own power and leave the field, although he did not return with a strained back. Herman said that Robinson didn’t practice on Sunday, but that he is moving around well and is expected to return to practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

Now Robinson is lucky that he’s able to laugh about the incident.

“Again, there’s gonna be other hard-learned lessons for for him as a true freshman, but the best ways to learn them are to experience them,” Herman said.

Hopefully none of those other lessons result from such risky decisions.