UAB Backfield Keeping the Chains Moving, on the ground and through the air

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - September 13, 2026

Roderick Robinson II spent a good portion on Saturday’s game running through Louisiana-Monroe. On a key 3rd-and-1 on the final play of the third quarter, though, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound UAB running back decided to put his athleticism on display.

The play came with UAB perched on the red zone doorstep while trying to slice into 20-13 deficit. Robinson lined up on the left wing on the play. Quarterback Ryder Burton was under center and no UAB running back was behind him. Robinson started right, took a handoff from Burton, got good blocking on the right edge and skirted around the corner. ULM’s Jay Harper angled toward the sideline and chose to go low, which was a good idea for the 5-10, 180-pound corner. Robinson simply leaped over Harper and got five yards on the play before going out of bounds.

Afterwards, Robinson was asked if he preferred leaping over defenders or running through them. Robinson smiled before answering.

“My favorite basketball player is LeBron James,” Robinson said. “The way he flies in the air, I mean, it's mesmerizing, honestly. I just try to replicate that as much as I can. You know, we got the same birthday, so I feel a little bit of him in me, especially when I do that. So, you know, shout out to LeBron.”

It also took instinct.

“You just gotta know your surroundings, know the type of player you're going up against,” Robinson said. “I find myself to be a slightly above average size back. When a DB is out there on me, I'm sure he's thinking, ‘He’s gonna run through me.’  It's a split second decision, but, I mean, once I see him kind of chopping his feet and getting ready to get low, I just jump as high as I can and pray for the best.”

Prayer hasn’t been needed for the Blazers to move the chains. UAB head coach Alex Mortensen, who also calls the plays, kept the football in the hands of Robinson, Bam McReynolds and Ja’Vin Simpkins as much as possible. After two games, UAB is averaging 230 rushing yards per game, which is 26th in the country. Of the teams that have played two games, only seven have more rushing attempts than the 100 attempts for UAB thus far. Two of those teams – Army and Navy – have the top rushing offenses in the country.

On Saturday, it was Robinson and McReynolds leading the way in the 26-20 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Robinson finished with 114 yards on 21 carries and McReynolds totaled 75 yards on 16 carries with a 27-yard touchdown run against his former team. UAB finished with 266 yards on 52 carries, which is the most single game rushing yards since gaining 273 yards against Alabama State in the 2025 season opener and most single game carries since having 53 in the 2024 season opener against Alcorn State. It’s the most rushing yards against a FBS opponent since gaining 406 yards in the 2022 regular season finale at Louisiana Tech and the most carries against a FBS foe since having 53 against Charlotte in the sixth game of 2023.

“I feel like we function as a well-oiled machine,” McReynolds said. “Just being able to see someone else in our position to go off and do their thing is very exciting. It's fun. I feel like we're all supportive of each other. We just have a lot of camaraderie in the room. Going out and being able to produce and also watching your brothers produce is something nice to see.”