James Robinson, Luther Kirk face important test at Illinois State’s pro day

With the final phase of the pre-draft process now in full-swing, prospects across the nation prepare for perhaps one final audition, in an attempt to impress next-level evaluators at their school’s pro day. While some players will have the luxury of standing on their testing numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine, other players have been anxiously waiting for this moment since seeing their names omitted from the combine invite sheet. One of the more intriguing FCS pro days on the circuit will take place at Illinois State, where running back James Robinson and defensive back Luther Kirk will be among the Redbirds performing in front of NFL brass.

Luther Kirk

Known more for his defensive prowess, Kirk also doubled as a dual-threat quarterback at Garland High School (Garland, Texas), amassing 1,160 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air and rushing for 798 yards and five touchdowns as a senior.

Transitioning to the defensive side of the ball full-time upon arriving at Illinois State in 2015, Kirk played in 10 games for the Redbirds as a freshman, totaling 18 tackles and four pass breakups. The ascending defensive back went on to play in all 12 games the following season, registering 15 tackles on the year, and found a niche on special teams, where he tallied a team-leading seven stops.

Just as it seemed he was beginning to establish a defined role in the Redbirds’ secondary, however, off-field hardships prompted him to take a year off from football. He rejoined the team ahead of the 2018 campaign — and hit the ground running.

Voted a team captain upon his return, Kirk earned first-team Missouri Valley Football Conference honors after notching 61 tackles, three pass breakups, and five interceptions from his safety position. In his final season, Kirk produced 89 tackles (four for loss), three sacks, a forced fumble, and six pass breakups.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety earned STATS FCS second-team All-American and third-team AP FCS All-American recognition for his banner season — which culminated in an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he would compete alongside some of the top talent in college football.

From the moment he stepped onto Tropicana Field for the first time, Kirk managed to separate himself from the logjam of talent at the defensive back position. Kirk’s length and wingspan gave him a sizeable advantage over seemingly everyone he drew in coverage, and his versatility to line up all over formations earned him increased reps on the back end.

The range, coverage acumen, and plus ball skills that were on display throughout the week resurfaced in the premier college all-star showcase, as the former Redbirds’ defender finished with two tackles and an interception, on his way to earning Defensive MVP.

Among the more egregious NFL Scouting Combine snubs, Luther Kirk will have an opportunity to impress NFL brass for perhaps the final time at Illinois State’s pro day, which is slated for Wednesday, March 18. One of the more overlooked safety prospects in this year’s class, a big day from Kirk could make things interesting on day three of the 2020 NFL Draft, where his versatility, plus ball skills, and special teams ability could prove to be too enticing for teams to bypass at the tail end of draft weekend.

James Robinson

While Kirk must do all that he can to make himself a viable option to teams on draft weekend, his Redbirds teammate finds himself on the opposite end of the spectrum, already established.

Upon arriving at Illinois State in 2016, following a decorated career at Lutheran High School, running back James Robinson became a mainstay in the backfield for head coach Brock Spack. In fact, the 5-foot-10, 220-pound runner earned 63 carries for 322 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman, while also doubling as the Redbirds’ kick returner.

The following season earned Robinson first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference recognition, after rushing for 933 yards and 12 touchdowns in 11 games. He finished third in the conference in rushing yards and 11th in the FCS in rushing touchdowns.

A STATS FCS Walter Payton Award finalist and Phil Steele first-team FCS All-American selection in 2018 — among a myriad of other accolades — Robinson put together a breakout junior campaign in which he rushed for 1,333 yards and 12 touchdowns on 205 carries, while adding 21 receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown as a receiver out of the backfield.

Robinson would eclipse the 2,000-yard rushing barrier in 2019, carrying the ball an astounding 364 times for 2,006 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. Named a consensus first-team All-American by the AP and Walter Camp Football Foundation, among others, Robinson ran his way into the Illinois State record books, finishing his career ranked second in Redbirds history in rushing yards (4,444), rushing touchdowns (44), and all-purpose yards (5,218). What’s more: The highly productive runner received an invite to showcase his talents at the 95th annual East-West Shrine Bowl.

At the Shrine Bowl, Robinson established himself as the top running back in attendance. Largely considered to be a one-dimensional running back, the 220-pound ball carrier showed impressive acceleration on outside runs, and his patience and vision at the line of scrimmage often led to several of the week’s longer running plays. Among the standout performers in the game that followed, Robinson rushed for 80 yards — including a Shrine Bowl record 63-yard touchdown — and added 56 yards as a receiver. He was narrowly edged out by fellow running back Benny LeMay in earning Offensive MVP honors.

Robinson continued to enjoy a strong pre-draft showing in the weeks that followed, turning heads at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The Illinois State standout ran a 4.64 40-yard dash, while adding 24 reps on the bench press, a 125-inch broad jump, a 7.03 3-cone drill, and 40 inches in the vertical jump.

With his pro day less than a week away, Robinson will have another chance to prove to teams that he can shoulder the load in an NFL backfield, and he can further elevate his soaring draft stock with his performance in the on-field portion of the workout. Should he improve his 40-yard dash time, it is feasible that Robinson emerges from sleeper territory and becomes an early third day target.