Mississippi State University running back Josh Robinson has decided to turn pro.

“It wasn’t a decision I made this year,” Robinson said. “I made it since my first year as a freshman. I set up a plan and I’m following my plan. I wanted to be consistent on the field and off the field and graduate. I wanted to put myself in the best position possible.”

Robinson said his decision wasn’t just about football.

“It’s about graduating, meeting the woman I want to marry, starting a family and sharing my blessings along the way,” Robinson said.

The redshirt junior played a key role in the Bulldogs’ outstanding 2014 season.

Robinson got his chance to start this year and took advantage.

The 2011 Franklinton High graduate ran for 1,203 yards on 190 carries (6.3 yards per attempt) and 11 touchdowns over 13 games. He also caught 28 passes for 370 yards and a touchdown.

The rushing attempts and yards were team highs and he was second to quarterback Dak Prescott in touchdowns. Prescott finished with 14 touchdowns.

For his college career, Robinson had 345 carries for 1,997 yards (5.7) and 15 touchdowns.

Robinson was selected a second-team all-Southeastern Conference Coaches’ Football Team player and a second-team player by the Associated Press.

When asked to describe himself as a running back, Robinson said, “running back has three phases and I think I complete all three phases as far as running the ball, catching the ball and pass blocking.”

Robinson talked about blocking.

“The running back has to have a lot of pride in blocking because you have that million dollar quarterback you have to protect,” Robinson said. “The game has changed to a passing league. As a running back, being able to block for your quarterback and catch passes out of the backfield, and I can also line up as a receiver and catch passes.”

Mississippi State went 10-3 overall this season and 6-2 in the Southeastern Conference.

“This team was born on Jan. 1, 2014,” Robinson said. “We had to put in the work from that day forward and we did. We knew what type of team and what type of season we wanted. It didn’t work out exactly the way wanted, but we had a good run. We made history.”

The Bulldogs made it to the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami but suffered a 49-34 loss to Georgia Tech Wednesday.

Robinson ran for 75 yards on 13 carries (5.8) and a touchdown in the Orange Bowl for the Bulldogs.

Off of the field, Robinson has hit the books too.

He is about to graduate. He needs just one hour of credit to graduate. He will be earning a Kinesiology Degree in human sciences.

“My grandma didn’t raise a fool,” Robinson said. “She always taught me to hit my books and ball out.”