Oklahoma All-State football 2022: How Carl Albert's Xavier Robinson grew into an 'entirely different bracket'
MIDWEST CITY — Xavier Robinson knew things were about to change.
When Carl Albert’s quarterback went down in the first game of the season with a broken collarbone, it was no doubt the offensive scheme would change.
“At first it was stressful,” Robinson said. “Not only for me but a lot of the players and coaches. So, I decided to just step up and be even more of a leader and go out and give it all for my team.”
Robinson, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior running back in his first season as the primary rusher, did exactly what he set out to do.
But even he was surprised with the results.
Earlier this season, despite all of the NCAA Division-I running backs and quarterbacks that have donned the Carl Albert red and grey, Robinson became the first 2,000-yard rusher in school history.
He then led the Titans to a Class 5A state championship, making an impact in every offensive stat in the 49-7 rout of McAlester. He rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He completed two passes for 28 yards and a touchdown. And he caught two passes for 22 yards and a touchdown.
For his outstanding season, Robinson is The Oklahoman’s 2022 All-State football team’s Offensive Player of the Year, cementing himself as one of the best running backs the state has ever seen.
“I’m actually shocked about it,” Robinson said on his junior season achievements. “My goal was to come in and really make a big impact, but I didn’t expect to make such a big impact. It feels great.”
Robinson was far from an unknown name among players and coaches in the metro area, due to his dominant little league years and constant school changes. But for the fans and football community around the state, Robinson put on a show to let everyone know who he was, constantly rumbling for four-touchdown, 200-yard games to lift Carl Albert to a 12-2 record this season.
The Titans lost their first and third game of the season as they worked out the kinks without their quarterback. But with Robinson leading the way, Carl Albert stormed to 11 straight wins to end the season, overcoming many doubters and dominant teams along the way.
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Robinson’s favorite win of the season came against undefeated rival Bishop McGuinness when the Titans were back to full strength.
“We were really doubted a lot that game,” Robinson said. “A lot of people expected us to come out and lose that game and we really just flipped a switch. We made plays on offense and defense and we just came out and handled business. My favorite run was against McGuinness.”
Robinson ran for 214 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries in Carl Albert’s 31-24 win at McGuinness.
Midway through the season, Robinson went from having a null recruiting period to picking up offers from Iowa State, Memphis, North Texas and UNLV.
With a state championship season in which he broke school records — racking up 2,594 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns on 276 carries — they’re all well-earned.
“This offseason he just totally put himself in an entirely different bracket,” Carl Albert coach Mike Dunn said. “He attacked the weight room, he got out there on the track, he got faster, he got bigger he got stronger. So, none of it was a surprise to us. He’s a phenomenal athlete, but he’s a great human being even before that. He’s the total package.”
James D. Jackson covers high school sports across the Oklahoma City metro and state. Have a story idea for James? He can be reached at jjackson@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @JamesDJackson15. Support James' work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Carl Albert's Xavier Robinson grew into 'entirely different bracket'
