The Atlanta Falcons’ running back, Bijan Robinson, is only in his third NFL season, but he’s already making waves as one of the league’s most impressive young backs. Since his debut in 2023, he hasn’t missed a single game, and his numbers speak for themselves: 976 rushing and 487 receiving yards as a rookie, followed by 1,456 rushing and 431 receiving yards in 2024. That’s consistent with dominance.

To add a layer of intrigue, he’s gone up against some of the best defenders the NFL has to offer. But ask him who’s been the toughest challenge so far, and he’ll throw you a curveball: It’s someone from his college days, who currently lines up behind the Dallas Cowboys‘ front five: LB DeMarvion Overshown.

“I’ll say in college: DeMarvion Overshown,” Robinson said with a grin on his face. “That dude… He gave me the most competitive time, in college, in practice, every time. Like, he made me a better player, I’ll say that.”

Right after that went down, you could bet Robinson’s statement reached Overshown, and yes, the Cowboys’ LB didn’t shy away from replying to his Texas teammate.

“My brother🙏🏾,” Overshown wrote, “I still can remember our first workout together and how humbled you were coming into college as the #1 RB in the nation. I will always appreciate our battles during practice. Definition of Iron sharpening Iron! He will retire one of the Greatest!”

One of the greatest running backs is still in the making. But the optimism from Overshown can be understandable. After all, the two have lined up against each other in practice during their time together at the Texas Longhorns.

Overshown had already spent a couple of seasons from 2018 to 2020 before Robinson arrived. Together, they spent three seasons while lining up in practice. The Longhorns, meanwhile, had an impressive 20-15 record from 2020 to 2022, while also winning a pair of Alamo Bowls with Robinson and Overshown as teammates.

Fast forward to the 2023 NFL draft week, the Falcons picked Robinson eighth overall, while the Cowboys picked his teammate in the third round with the 90th overall selection. The back has been putting up a strong outing ever since his debut. But that can’t be said about Overshown. The crystal?

Injury complications. Overshown couldn’t suit up in his rookie season after tearing his ACL in the preseason. He ultimately made his debut in 2024 but suffered another season-ending knee injury in early December. He’s now surely expected to bounce back, and Bijan Robinson just explained how lethal DeMarvion Overshown can be when healthy.

Bijan Robinson raves about DeMarvion Overshown’s athleticism

Having spent three years at Texas alongside DeMarvion Overshown, Bijan Robinson knows exactly what kind of athlete he is, and he’s not shy about saying it, either. “He never stops. He’s extremely athletic. He’s a bigger linebacker that can cover, that can run side-to-side, that can just be where you’re at every single time,” Robinson added.

“He can cover you really well. I’ll say DeMarvion Overshown is the guy. In practice, we would always have these one-on-one battles, and he would always make me want to just win every single time. Now in the NFL, practices are different, But back in college, we used to go after it. But I appreciate DeMarvion so much.”

The two actually faced each other in the NFL back in November 2024. While the Falcons ultimately beat the Cowboys 27-21, Overshown recorded four tackles against his former teammate, two of them for loss. However, the Cowboys’ LB had to miss out on the rest of the season after playing five more games from there.

“He was killing it with the Cowboys,” the Falcons’ RB continued, “but I would say he is definitely the guy that made me, really, a much better player.” Fast forward to now, and both of them are in year 3. But Robinson and Overshown won’t be facing each other this regular season.