‘He will be a hot commodity.’ How will Wan’Dale Robinson fit into the NFL?

If Wan’Dale Robinson — all 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds of him — played football for the University of Kentucky in 2010, there’s a good chance he would have returned for a senior season.

The NFL in 2022, however, better understands the potential of a shifty, versatile pass-catcher who stands under 6-feet tall. Robinson back in the day, at best, would have been viewed as potential slot receiver. While that role’s likely to be where he’ll most butter his bread next season for whatever team selects him, the one-and-done Wildcat can bring more value to clubs in a league that’s trending in the favor of offenses.

And he’ll probably be off the board sooner rather than later.

“Because of his natural ability to be a playmaker at multiple spots, I think he will be a hot commodity for teams that are looking for explosive playmakers,” ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid wrote in an email to the Herald-Leader.

As of Sunday night, the only significant mock draft in which Robinson appeared was the most recent one released by Pro Football Network, which saw him selected 127th overall — in the fourth round — by the San Francisco 49ers, a team that will play for a Super Bowl berth next weekend in large part due to the presence of another versatile, undersized wide receiver — former South Carolina standout Deebo Samuel.

Samuel, it’s worth noting, is frequently deployed as a running back by the 49ers; he rushed for 365 yards and eight touchdowns on 59 carries in the 2021 regular season, second among all rushers on the team. Robinson was used primarily as a running back at Nebraska for two years before transferring to UK, where he was almost exclusively a receiver. He rushed for 111 yards on seven carries, most of that yardage coming on a 64-yard carry against Missouri in the second week of the season.

“He was a fixture in Nebraska’s offense prior to this season, but he proved to be much more than a complementary option this season,” wrote Reid. “His one-year contribution for Coach (Mark) Stoops and the program was one of the best single-season performances in school history.”

Most mocks before the NFL season ends are restricted to the first round. Robinson as of Sunday was rated by Pro Football Focus as the 12th best draft-eligible wide receiver and the 78th best-available prospect overall, but seven of its top 12 receivers were ranked among the top 50 players on the board. If teams looking for receiver help draft according to that logic and other teams fill needs elsewhere, it could push Robinson further down the draft list than his overall talent might merit.

“The bevy of routes and his quick shift ability will see him featured with specific plays at the next level,” said Cam Mellor, a draft analyst for Pro Football Network. “His willingness to move around the formation will also go a long ways toward him seeing the ball.”

Robinson will have multiple opportunities to improve his stock before April’s draft. The draft combine is scheduled for March 1-7 in Indianapolis and Kentucky will hold an on-campus pro day following that event. Teams certainly will reach out frequently to the Wildcats coaching staff, especially NFL transplant Liam Coen, who spearheaded Robinson’s transformation into a full-time threat in the passing game.

Mellor and Reid agreed that Robinson’s size shouldn’t be too much of a concern come April. Kentucky fans hoping for a second helping of the record-setter should direct their mean tweets to Roger Goodell and the modern NFL.

“His size is a bit overblown,” wrote Reid, “because he plays much bigger than his measurables indicate.”

After ‘amazing year,’ 1 of these 10 will be 2021 Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year

Way-too-early SEC football rankings: After Alabama and Georgia, is Kentucky the best?

Where does Wan’Dale Robinson rank on UK’s list of best one-and-dones?

2022 NFL Draft tracker: Which Kentucky football players are going pro?