Looking for a Bijan Robinson breakout: How Texas alum from the 2023 NFL draft performed
The NFL season is finally over, which means there won't be any more football for the next six months.
As the 2024 NFL draft approaches, fans begin to get excited for the new crop of Texas football players headed to the league. However, the end of the year means that last season's rookies are beginning to enter their first offseason.
What does Texas' 2023 draft class look like headed into their sophomore season? Let's take a look.
RB Bijan Robinson - Drafted 7th overall by the Atlanta Falcons
One of the most hyped running back prospects of the past 20 years, Robinson entered the season with high expectations. He left the season with modest numbers that don't quite match up with his spectacular on-the-field play.
It seemed that Robinson had plenty of highlights with the Falcons in 2023. However, he ended the year with 214 rushes for 976 yards rushing and 58 catches for 487 yards and eight total touchdowns. Good numbers, but not as incredible as other highly drafted running backs such as Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott, who recorded over 1,500 yards from scrimmage in their rookie seasons.
This was partially because Robinson split carries for most of the year with fellow RB Tyler Allgeier. With a new head coach and offensive mind in Atlanta, look for Robinson to have a true sophomore breakout.
LB DeMarvion Overshown - Drafted 90th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
After showing flashes in training camp, Overshown's season was cut woefully short after he suffered a torn ACL in a preseason game. He was expected to play a big role in the defense as a rookie before his injury.
“He was climbing,” McCarthy told the Dallas Morning News. “He was climbing the charts. I mean, he showed up right away in the offseason program, just his ability to fly around. Really has excellent command for a young player, young linebacker.”
The departure of Dan Quinn and hiring of Mike Zimmer may have an impact on how he is used in his return in 2024.
RB Roschon Johnson - Drafted 115th overall by the Chicago Bears
Robinson's backup at Texas spent the year as the No. 2 back behind Khalil Herbert.
Johnson had some highlights this year, including delivering a huge hit on a run vs. the Packers. He finished the year with 352 yards and two touchdowns on 81 attempts. He also had a lot of responsibility as a pass blocker, which was part of the reason why he played above Travis Homer and D'Onta Foreman.
DT Keondre Coburn - Drafted 194th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs
If Coburn had managed to stick with the team that drafted him, he would've ended the season as a Super Bowl Champion. Unfortunately for him, the Chiefs waived him to make room for another former Longhorn, Charles Omenihu.
Despite the team wanting to sign him to the practice squad, Coburn was picked up by the Titans and finished the season in Tennessee. Coburn played in five games and collected eight tackles, with three of them being solo.
DT Moro Ojomo - Drafted 249th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles
Ojomo managed to stick with the Eagles despite their stacked defensive line. The Longhorn alumnus only played in two games in 2023, with three tackles in total.
CB D'Shawn Jamison - UDFA signed with the Carolina Panthers
The Panthers were the worst team in the NFL this past season, giving the Bears their No. 1 overall pick due to the trade that netted them Bryce Young in the previous draft. Jamison managed to play in seven games for them with 10 tackles and one pass defended.
His flashiest highlight came on a pick-6 vs. the Vikings, when he ran all the way down the field to deliver a block on quarterback Kirk Cousins, completing the play for teammate Sam Franklin.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How did Texas football alumni from the 2023 NFL draft finish the year?
