Rockford native James Robinson finds his way back into football

Former Rockford Lutheran and Illinois State University star James Robinson is back.

The IHSA’s all-time leading rusher, and ISU’s No. 2 leading rusher, has resurfaced on the gridiron, helping lead the Louisville Kings to the United Football League’s version of the Super Bowl, the United Bowl. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday on ABC TV, and will be played in Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

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Robinson, who has 300 yards rushing and three touchdowns and eight catches for 68 yards in his six games since joining the team, should be one of the Kings’ focal points. He was cut by the Kings earlier this season, but was called back after the team started slowly, and he’s helped them take off.

The Kings just knocked off the St. Louis Battlehawks last weekend in the semifinals with Robinson cranking out a 53-yard touchdown run less than four minutes into the game. They have now won seven of their last eight, after starting 0-3.

Robinson didn’t play football last year, but made his comeback this season, making his debut with the Kings on April 16. He last played for the Green Bay Packers in 2023.

Robinson ran for an IHSA-state-record 9,045 yards for Lutheran before going on to become the second-leading rusher in Illinois State University history. He then became the only NFL undrafted free agent to rush for over 1,000 yards as a rookie at Jacksonville.

But since he tore his Achilles tendon during his second season with the Jaguars, he’s struggled to find a way back into the league ― and to the game of football.

Robinson ran for just 87 yards in the NFL after Jacksonville traded him to the Jets and has also spent time with the Patriots, Giants and Packers. He then signed with the New Orleans Saints last year in a practice-squad deal, but didn’t last.

Talking at his local football camp last summer at the Rockford Lutheran High School football field, Robinson sounded excited to get back into the game.

“I am healthy,” Robinson said. “I know there are a lot of questions about my injuries, but my only major injury was my Achilles, which I came back from.”

Now, he’s truly back. We’ll find out Saturday just how far back.

Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and sign up for the Rockford High School Sports Newsletter here at rrstar.com. Jay has covered a variety of sports, from the Chicago Bears and Blackhawks to local youth sports, since the turn of the century at the Register Star.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford Lutheran’s James Robinson gets another shot to show what he’s got