University of Kentucky star Wan’Dale Robinson declares for 2022 NFL Draft
Wan’Dale Robinson will be a one-and-done on the gridiron at Kentucky.
Robinson, a Frankfort native who transferred to UK following two seasons at Nebraska, announced his intention to enter the 2022 NFL Draft on Wednesday night. He will forego up to two more years of college eligibility — his senior season and a possible fifth “super senior” season under the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver.
“This past year has been unbelievable, and one I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Robinson said in a video posted to Twitter. “Thank you to Big Blue Nation for cheering on me and my teammates throughout this whole year.”
While he wore blue and white for just a year, Robinson maximized the opportunity afforded to him in Lexington. He was pigeon-holed as a pass-catching running back at Nebraska but operated as a full-time wide receiver at UK, for whom he recorded as many 100-yard receiving games in his first two appearances (two) as he did in 18 games played for the Cornhuskers.
Robinson set single-season school records with 104 and 1,334 yards, breaking prior records set by set by James Whalen and Craig Yeast that had stood for more than 20 years. His was only the sixth 1,000-yard receiving season in program history, and was the highest by a receiver under Mark Stoops and since Yeast’s 1999 campaign.
The Associated Press and league coaches both named Robinson to their All-Southeastern Conference Second Team, while Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus made him a First Team selection (the latter also named him to its All-America Second Team).
Kentucky’s 2018 Mr. Football winner who starred in multiple roles at Western Hills High School, Robinson originally committed to Kentucky but ultimately signed with Nebraska out of high school. His return to UK was in part predicated on the hire of a new offensive coordinator, Liam Coen ahead of the 2021 season, and has helped the program shake off the notion that it can’t be a place where receivers can thrive.
Robinson’s success has already paid dividends on the recruiting trail. Kentucky as part of its 2022 class signed Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson along with two four-star recruits in Barion Brown and Dane Key.
Robinson was the second Wildcat to announce his intention Wednesday to enter the NFL Draft. Earlier in the day, senior nose tackle Marquan McCall said he would also turn pro despite having collegiate eligibility available.
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 8:49 PM.
