SAN JOSE – The San Jose State working sport is a piece in progress. However Kairee Robinson might play an vital position in dashing up that growth.
SJSU (2-1) opens Mountain West Convention play on Saturday at Wyoming, and the senior tailback is coming off his greatest efficiency in two seasons.
Robinson rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns in SJSU’s 34-6 win over Western Michigan. The Antioch native helped set the tone for the Spartans with a bone-rattling five-yard landing run within the second quarter that put San Jose State up 10-0.
On the play, Robinson, listed at 5-foot-10, 200 kilos, plowed by means of a Broncos cornerback and dragged him and a pair extra defenders with him into the tip zone. He added a 23-yard TD run within the fourth quarter to seal the win.
In all, Robinson carried the ball 13 occasions, his most energetic sport since a 21-carry sport towards Hawaii in SJSU’s third sport final season. The 81 yards had been probably the most for the previous De La Salle star since he ran for a career-high 111 yards towards Hawaii in the course of the 2020 season.
“No matter I've to do to assist the group win,” Robinson stated after the win over Western Michigan. “If I've to dam, run, carry the ball, throw the ball, no matter, so long as we come out with the win on the finish, I’m glad.”
By way of two video games, the Spartans had rushed for 103 yards (solely Colorado State and Boston School had been averaging fewer dashing yards per sport amongst FBS groups). However towards the Broncos, they rushed for 128 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry.
Robinson had rather a lot to do with the breakout.
“I used to be excited for Kairee,” head coach Brent Brennan stated following the sport. “I believed he ran with physicality and willpower, and it was superior to see that from him. Actually, actually enthusiastic about that.”
Robinson isn't any stranger to success. He twice rushed for greater than 1,000 yards with De La Salle, racking up 2,012 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior, and has been productive since he arrived at SJSU in 2019.
He performed 10 video games as a real freshman – beginning thrice – and completed third on the group in dashing with 174 yards and likewise caught two TD passes. Then Robinson performed in each sport – beginning 4 occasions – throughout SJSU’s magical 2020 season, ending second in dashing with 313 yards. He performed in each sport final season, however backed up Tyler Nevens.
The offense has a brand new look this season with the arrival of Hawaii switch quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, a scrambling menace, however the offense wants extra choices working the ball. With Nevens gone, it’s Robinson’s flip because the lead again.
Simply as encouraging as Robinson’s efficiency on Saturday – and vital to the event of the working sport – was the development by SJSU’s younger offensive line.
Offensive line coach Josh Oglesby stated after the sport that it was “every part” he’s been on the lookout for.
Proper deal with Jaime Navarro clamped up WMU’s Braden Fiske shifting him to the center of the sector and rendering him ineffective. When mixed with tight finish Sam Olson maneuvering his task fully to the left it opened up a spot that a college of whales might match by means of.
“There have been just a few runs like that on Saturday the place there was nice motion on the line of scrimmage,” stated Oglesby. “As soon as once more, it goes again to the arduous work these guys put in and the accrued reps of doing the identical factor, over and time and again.”
When offensive deal with Anthony Pardue says Oglesby was, “undoubtedly happy,” it won't sound like a lot. However following the Spartans’ first two video games, “happy” wouldn’t be a option to describe the O-line’s efficiency from Oglesby or any fan.
Within the Spartans’ first two video games, Cordeiro was sacked 14 occasions as Portland State and Auburn accrued 18 tackles for loss. Including to that, SJSU working backs mixed for simply 80 whole yards over each video games.
It was barely sufficient to win one sport, and never sufficient for the subsequent.
The struggles had been anticipated. SJSU got here into the season having three of 5 gamers on their offensive line with zero true faculty soccer expertise.
“There are such a lot of new items and items which have by no means completed it earlier than,” stated Oglesby. “Every sport is a studying expertise and I believe you’ve seen the development from week one to final Saturday.”