If 2021 ends up being Wan’Dale Robinson‘s only season at Kentucky, it’s hard to imagine it having gone much better.
In his first full season at wide receiver, the Nebraska transfer set new single-season school records for both receptions (104) and receiving yards (1,134) to go along with seven receiving touchdowns, and 111 rushing yards on just seven carries.
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Robinson, who had already broken tight end James Whalen’s single-season mark for receptions in the season finale vs. Louisville, became the first Wildcat with 100 receptions in Saturday’s 20-17 Citrus Bowl win over Iowa, where he also set UK bowl records for both catches (10) and receiving yards (170) on his way to being named Most Valuable Player.
With Kentucky trailing 17-13 in the fourth quarter, Robinson took over, totaling four catches for 86 yards on the game-winning drive. His 52-yarder that set up Chris Rodriguez go-ahead 6-yard touchdown run broke Craig Yeast’s 1998 record for receiving yards (1,311).
“It is really hard to describe what he has meant to us,” head coach Mark Stoops said. “He is the ultimate competitor, and he is very selfless. He plays extremely hard. He plays the game for himself, his family, his teammates, this institution, the state. Just plays so hard and makes such competitive plays in big moments. That is what you need to win a bowl game, to beat quality opponents. You need your guys to step up and make plays when you need them. He certainly did that.”
Now, Robinson faces a tough decision. On one hand, the Frankfort native is already one of UK’s most marketable athletes, cashing in on lucrative local NIL deals this season and will most certainly have bigger offers on the table next season.
On the other, Pro Football Focus, who has Robinson as the highest-graded wide receiver in the SEC and his Citrus Bowl performance as the third-highest by any Power 5 wideout this bowl season, projects him as the No. 78 overall prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft and No. 12 wide receiver.
“Robinson is a bona fide playmaker,” wrote PFF’s Michael Renner. “He’s likely the best pure gadget player in the class but can be more than just that, as he broke 20 tackles on 94 catches and gained 1,172 yards this season.”
Robinson also had zero drops on 31 targets of 20 or more yards this season.
“Me coming home, I had the mentality of coming and working and just do everything I can to help our team win,” Robinson said. “As time went on, they started trusting me more and more, just to do more and more. I just tried to do everything I could, and then everything came with it. I am just extremely blessed that they gave me the opportunities to go out there and make plays like I did, and he gave me every chance I could to go out and catch all the balls I could.”
On Robinson’s final 52-yard reception, he eluded Iowa All-American and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Riley Moss.
“He is just a really explosive, dynamic football player,” Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “He’s tough to keep up with. He’s a really good football player. He was good when we faced him last time, and he is probably better right now and that comes with age. We have a lot of respect for him.”
