NorCal FB Offensive Player of the Year: Ryan Robards

Elk Grove’s do-everything talent was a one-man highlight reel in 2015

  The similarities are uncanny and undeniable. Six feet tall, about 200 pounds, versatile, fast, a breakout 2015 season at the running back position, and dominance at a Northern California football powerhouse that was mostly overlooked outside the region.

  When Elk Grove assistant football coach Jeff Carlson compares Thundering Herd star RB/DB/K/Return Specialist Ryan Robards to Stanford’s all-purpose phenom Christian McCaffrey, it is without a hint of exaggeration.

  “With all of the things that he can do on the football field, Robards and McCaffrey are exactly alike,” Carlson said of the SportStars Magazine All-NorCal Offensive Player of the Year. “I’ve been coaching for a lot of years and seen a lot of talented players, and he is as good as it gets.”

  Much like McCaffrey’s perceived Heisman snub, Robards is not getting the attention or respect from Division I football programs that Carlson believes his player deserves. Despite rushing for a school record and Sac-Joaquin Section-best 2,884 yards and 43 touchdowns — and adding seven more scores by way of reception, interception return, fumble recovery, and punt return — the Thundering Herd senior is not considering multiple D-I offers.

  In fact, he signed with the University of Pacific to play baseball next year (he has options to pursue football should an enticing offer come in before the Feb. 3 National Letter of Intent Signing Day). The fact that college football coaches are not yet clamoring for Robards’ signature is as much frustrating as it is comforting to Carlson.

  As Elk Grove’s long-time baseball coach, Carlson has a star outfielder and team leader whose focus went to earning a third consecutive section crown in the spring as soon as Elk Grove fell to Folsom in the section football finals.

  “He is just a phenomenal athlete and a natural leader,” Carlson said. “I’ve seen him grow up with my son and he is as genuine off the field as he is on the field.”

  Robards assumed the lead tailback role after Elk Grove head football coach Chris Nixon entered the season with the position as a question mark. After a relatively pedestrian 91 yards on 15 carries in the team’s opening win over Reno, Robards rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the team’s last 13 games.

  His best performance came in one of the biggest games of the season for Elk Grove. Facing Delta League-rival Grant-Sacramento on the road, Robards opened the scoring with a 70-yard interception return, added a 4-yard TD run, picked up a fumble and returned it 10 yards for a score, returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown, and dashed 62 yards for a score. And that was just the first half.

  In addition to his breakout offensive season, Robards was a steady defensive back with 50 tackles and four interceptions, made 6 of 8 field goals, including four kicks from at least 40 yards, averaged 42.2 yards per punt and boomed 62 touchbacks.

  “He’s a phenomenal athlete and has a motor that just keeps going,” Nixon said before the section final. “I can’t keep him off of the field.”