You’ve seen the clips of Bijan Robinson making NFL defenders look like they’re stuck in quicksand. The jump cuts are violent. The balance is almost weird. But if you think he just "arrived" as a finished product at the University of Texas or with the Atlanta Falcons, you’re missing the wildest part of the story. Honestly, the Bijan Robinson high school era at Salpointe Catholic in Tucson was basically a four-year glitch in the matrix of Arizona football.
Most people see the 7,036 rushing yards and think, "Yeah, he was a five-star recruit, of course he had big numbers." But stats don't tell you about the game where the coaches literally felt bad for the other team. Or the time his grandmother had to fight just to get him on the field.
The Freshman Who Wasn't Supposed to Play Varsity
Salpointe Catholic isn't some tiny school where any athletic kid walks onto the field and starts. It’s a powerhouse. Back in 2016, the "unwritten rule" was that freshmen stayed on the freshman team. Period. No exceptions.
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Bijan’s grandmother, Cleo Robinson, wasn’t having it. She knew he was different. The coaching staff, led by Dennis Bene at the time, eventually gave in—sorta. They put him on the JV roster for a game.
He scored eight touchdowns.
In one game.
Assistant coach Al Alexander famously recalled that by the second time Bijan touched the ball, he went 70 yards through a hole that shouldn't have existed. He was running sideways at full speed. It was "ridiculous status" immediately. They moved him to varsity the next week, and the Arizona state record books haven't been the same since.
Why Bijan Robinson High School Stats Are Actually Insane
Let’s look at the numbers, but not just the totals. People mention the 114 career touchdowns because it’s a state record. It’s a huge number. But look at the efficiency.
In his senior year, Bijan averaged 17.7 yards per carry.
Think about that. Every time the quarterback handed him the ball, the chains moved nearly two full first downs. Most high school stars are happy with 7 or 8 yards per carry. 17.7 is a joke. He finished that 2019 season with 2,235 yards and 38 touchdowns on only 126 carries. He didn't need 300 touches to dominate; he just needed to touch the ball once or twice a drive to end it.
- Total Career Rushing Yards: 7,036 (2nd all-time in AZ)
- Total Career Touchdowns: 114 (State Record)
- Yards Per Carry (Senior Year): 17.7
- The "Ed Doherty" Factor: First player in Arizona history to win the Ed Doherty Award (the state’s Heisman) twice.
He was the first running back in the history of the state to top 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Most kids burn out or get keyed on by defenses. Bijan just got faster.
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The Recruitment Drama Nobody Talks About
By the time he was a junior, every major program was at Salpointe’s doorstep. He was a consensus five-star. Ohio State wanted him bad. USC was in the mix.
But Bijan is a guy who moves on vibe and faith. He’s a deeply religious kid, named after the Iranian fashion designer Bijan Pakzad (the name literally means "hero" in Persian). When he chose the University of Texas, it wasn't just about the depth chart. He felt a connection to the city of Austin and the vision Steve Sarkisian (who arrived later) and the previous staff had for a versatile back.
A lot of recruiters tried to tell him he might be a slot receiver or a "hybrid" because he was so good at catching the ball. Bijan knew he was a true back who just happened to have elite hands. He stuck to his guns.
The Style That Changed Arizona Football
If you watch his high school tape—which is still all over YouTube and worth the 10 minutes—you’ll see the "jump step." Coach Alexander says Bijan "redefined" it.
Most backs jump to avoid a tackle and lose their momentum. Bijan would jump, land, and somehow be at top speed instantly. It’s a biomechanical feat that sports scientists still study. He combined that with a 5'11", 200-pound frame that he used to run over kids who were trying to arm-tackle him.
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It wasn't fair. Honestly, it looked like a college senior playing against middle schoolers half the time.
Beyond the Field at Salpointe Catholic
E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) isn't just a Google acronym; it's how you describe Bijan’s reputation in Tucson. He wasn't just a "jock." He volunteered at homeless shelters and was a leader in his church youth group.
He maintained a B average while being the most famous teenager in the state. That’s why his jersey is essentially a holy relic at Salpointe now. He didn't leave a trail of "diva" behavior behind him. He left a blueprint for how to be a superstar without the ego.
What You Should Take Away
If you're looking at the Bijan Robinson high school career to understand his NFL success, focus on these three things:
- Vision is Genetic: His grandfather was a track star and an official; his great-uncle Paul Robinson was a Pro Bowl back for the Bengals. The "vision" people talk about in the NFL was already there when he was 14.
- Efficiency over Volume: He never needed 40 carries to win a game. He taught coaches that a "home run" threat is more valuable than a "grinder."
- The Tucson Standard: He didn't just play in Arizona; he conquered it. Being the first two-time Ed Doherty winner is a bigger deal in that state than most people realize.
To really see how this translates today, watch how he uses his hands in the passing game for Atlanta. Those routes aren't new. He was running them on the practice fields in Tucson back in 2018. If you want to dig deeper into how he transitioned these skills to the next level, checking out his 2020 Alamo Bowl performance—where he averaged 18.3 yards per carry as a true freshman—is the logical next step.