Report: Mississippi State Running Back Josh Robinson Visited with Colts

There has been a lot of discussion amongst Colts fans this offseason about the running back position, and it seems likely that the team will add a running back in the draft (though likely not in the first round).  An intriguing player who the Colts reportedly had in for a pre-draft visit recently is former Mississippi State running back Josh Robinson.  This according to Yahoo Sports' Rand Getlin:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Former <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HailState?src=hash">#HailState</a> RB Josh Robinson visited with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Colts?src=hash">#Colts</a> in Indianapolis recently, a source said. Kid&#39;s a beast. <a href="https://t.co/unHjGtKP6n">https://t.co/unHjGtKP6n</a></p>&mdash; Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rand_Getlin/status/588070019445194752">April 14, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The 5-9, 215 pound running back was named second-team All-SEC in 2014 by both the Associated Press and the coaches.  He played in 13 games in 2014, starting 11 in his first year as the team's starting running back.  He rushed for 1,203 yards and 11 scores, and totaled 1,573 all-purpose yards, which was the second-highest total in school history.  He has earned the nickname "Bowling Ball" due to his tough running and his tendency to run over defenders, and he is both a tough running back and a good receiver out of the backfield.  In his career at Mississippi State, Johnson played in 38 games (starting 13) and recorded five 100-yard rushing games and one 100-yard receiving game, also tying a school record by averaging 6.2 yards per carry in his career.

Mocking the Draft's Dan Kadar ranks Robinson as the 15th-best running back in this draft class, while NFL.com projects him as a seventh round pick or a priority free agent.  SB Nation's Danny Kelly said that Robinson might be the player most like Marshawn Lynch ("Beast Mode") in this draft class due to his tough running style.

He didn't have a particularly good showing at the Combine, and one of the biggest knocks on him is his speed.  He possesses great toughness and the ability to break tackles, but he doesn't possess the natural speed needed to be an electric player at the NFL level.  He's much more like another former Mississippi State running back in Vick Ballard in that regard, as Ballard didn't "wow" with his speed in 2012 but had a good year with the Colts due to his vision, patience, and tough running.  The same could be true of Robinson, and I think he could be a solid backup or number two running back at the NFL level.  If the Colts don't get a running back on the second day of the draft, Josh Robinson would be an intriguing option on day three.