From prospects to pros: 2022 NFL Draft résumé for Kentucky wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson
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This year’s NFL Draft is April 28-30. A number of former University of Kentucky stars are eligible, and many are expected to be selected this year. We’re taking a look at every UK player who hopes to have their name called.
Wan’Dale Robinson
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 178 pounds
Hometown: Frankfort, Ky. (Western Hills)
Projected NFL position: Wide receiver
What you’ll remember about him at UK: Oh, just the fact that he had the single greatest season of any receiver in school history. Robinson set single-season records for receptions and receiving yards, and was recognized as an All-Southeastern Conference selection by The Associated Press and league coaches. Robinson was named 2021 Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year by the Herald-Leader.
Key stats: 104 receptions (on 140 targets) and 1,334 yards, both single-season records at UK, as a junior. Ranked second in the SEC in both categories. Led Nebraska with 696 all-purpose yards as a sophomore. Twice named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list for his versatility. Overall grade of 91.3 by Pro Football Focus, the third-highest among receivers in the draft class.
Career development: Robinson, a four-star recruit and the top-ranked player in the state of Kentucky, originally committed to UK but flipped to Nebraska ahead of signing day. He was a spark plug for the Cornhuskers in his two seasons in Lincoln but was dissatisfied with his role (he was lined up more often in the backfield than as a receiver) and wanted to be closer to family, prompting a transfer ahead of the 2021 season. Incoming offensive coordinator Liam Coen sold him on Kentucky’s new-look scheme, and Robinson flourished as a featured receiver in the slot.
Latest draft projections: Round three seems to be the most popular landing spot for Robinson. NBC Sports’ Thor Nystrom projects him 89th overall to Buffalo, pairing him with one of the league’s top quarterbacks in Josh Allen. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has him going in the same round but 10 picks earlier to the Los Angeles Chargers, who boast Justin Herbert, one of the league’s top young passers.
His future: A compact frame limits Robinson’s ceiling as a draftable player — if he were 4 inches taller he’d be one of the most coveted receivers out there instead of a day-two guy — but the level at which he performed as the No. 1 receiving threat in a first-year offense in the SEC is enough to see his time in the pros going nicely. He won’t be expected to shoulder an otherworldly amount of targets, as he was at Kentucky, and comes into the league at a time when receivers of his stature are gaining value. Chances are that he’ll begin his career on a winner with a proven quarterback, too. He might not end up being a fantasy monster, but Robinson should pan out as a fine NFL player in the coming years.
Quote: “He may struggle as a more traditional receiver, and be limited in some of the more standard packages, but his big-play ability will be useful while he works to develop into an every-down receiver. In a deep receiver class, Robinson would be a steal if he’s still on the board past Day 2.” — Natalie Miller for The Draft Wire/USA Today
This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 8:04 AM.
