There aren't many players in the 2026 class who are more electrifying than Brayden Robinson. He was a unanimous choice for First-Team All-District, and it isn't hard to figure out why. The Red Oak, TX, wide receiver lit it up in his junior season, racking up over 1400 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Photo via Brayden Robinson, Instagram (@quick6ix_), Photo captured by Marcus Moreno (@shotby.moreno)
One of the most important days of the year for Notre Dame recruiting is their annual Junior Day. It involves getting players who are already committed to ND back on campus to spend some more time with the coaching staff, as well as providing another pitch to standout prospects from across the country who remain undecided. Notre Dame hosted twenty-five recruits at this year's Junior Day, with a good mix of both offensive and defensive talent. Players like quarterback Noah Grubbs, and linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. are firmly entrenched with the Irish, but over the next few weeks, I want to take a look at some of the prospects who visited South Bend but haven't quite made an official decision.
Robinson is one such player. His numbers alone are eye-popping but what makes them even more impressive is that he did it averaging just under 18 yards a catch. He is a big play waiting to happen, and the more of his film I watched the more I came away impressed. I am going to break down everything that stood out, and as always the criterion for evaluation will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it!
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Athletic Ability: Elite (7)
Robinson always appears to be playing at a different speed than his defensive counterparts. Scary acceleration when he finds some open grass and every play is a threat to go the distance. Excellent change of direction and agility, with major YAC ability after the catch, seamlessly getting defenders to break down as he blows by them. Cornerbacks clearly respect his speed, and I constantly saw them playing 10 yards off the line of scrimmage and still bailing at the snap. He eats up cushion so quickly that he always puts stress on the DB, and was able to do a lot of damage in the short game because of it. Elite separation quickness at the top of his routes. Surprisingly good contact balance for his size. Also provides versatility as a punt/kick returner where he is a big-time weapon. After watching Jayden Harrison return a kickoff for a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl vs Georgia, Notre Dame fans know how beneficial having that element on special teams can be.
Competitive Toughness: Very Good (6)
I am sure one of the knocks on Robinson that will pop up will be his size. At only 5'8" and 160 pounds, it will be easy for some to dismiss him as a gadget player, but we have seen players of his stature dominant at the college level before. Players like Tez Johnson of Oregon, and Calvin Austin III during his time with Memphis come to mind. It remains to be seen how Robinson will hold up against press coverage from bigger corners at the next level, as not many high school defensive backs are brave enough to play him close at the line and risk getting burned deep, but I can tell you his toughness will not be in question. He shows a real willingness when it comes to blocking on the perimeter, with good hand placement and leg drive. He shows zero fear when going over the middle, knowing he is going to absorb contact and maintain concentration through the catch. A particular play that stood out was actually on a field goal block. Robinson was the placeholder on the FG attempt, and it was blocked and recovered by the defender in stride around the ten-yard line who was looking to take it back for a touchdown. He didn't even make it to midfield before Robinson hawked him down and made the tackle. Not only did Robinson make catching him look effortless, but it showed the kind of hustle highlighting why he was voted a team captain by his peers.
Route Running: Very Good (6)
Usually with a player that possesses Robinson's rare speed, you just think vertical threat, and although getting vertical is definitely something he brings to the table, he showed on film that he can run a variety of routes and be effective doing so. He knows how to shift his weight and get out of breaks with suddenness, making it hard for defensive backs to stay attached. He does an excellent job of using a jab step to get the corner to lean outside before working in-breaking routes. Even with his smaller frame, I love what he brings in the red zone area, utilizing whip routes, and getting the corner to commit to the slant before breaking back towards the sideline. Go routes and post patterns will always be in his bag, but he has the ability to attack all areas of the field. He'll need to learn how to sit down in open areas vs zone better, but that will come with experience and coaching.
Catch Ability: Very Good (6)
When going vertical, he does a very good job of tracking the ball in the air over his shoulder without ever breaking stride. Robinson shows good leaping ability and knows how to high-point the ball even with his limited size. As mentioned above with his toughness, he has no problem catching through contact and does not show any issues with concentration drops, as he still attacks the ball the same way he would if he was wide open. Adjusts his frame well, snagging passes that are behind him or slightly out in front. He also has excellent footwork awareness and body control when working near the boundary making sure to get his feet down, especially around the goal line.
Robinson still has a whole senior year in front of him, and plenty of time to make any decision on where he wants to end up after high school. He would be a big get for Notre Dame, at a position that is always looking for another infusion of talent. The Fighting Irish have not had Robinson's type of pure speed at WR since probably Will Fuller, and he would be a weekly headache for opposing defensive coordinators. However it ends up shaking out for his recruitment, Brayden "Quick6ix" Robinson has a very bright future.
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