Melvin Gordon

In the spring of 2015, I will never forget the debate between Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley in regard to the best running back prospect in the NFL Draft. In College Fantasy Football the previous season, there was no argument that Gordon was the more productive fantasy ball carrier.

In the fall of 2014, Gordon led the nation in rushing with 2,587 yards, which is the third most in the history of the game, trailing only Barry Sanders and Ashton Jeanty. He established school records for 100-yard rushing games with 12 and 200-yard performances with six. He was only the third player to rush for at least 2,000 yards and score 30 touchdowns in a season behind Sanders and Kevin Smith. A home run hitter, he paced the nation with 17 runs over 40 yards and 10 runs of 50-plus yards. 

After the campaign concluded, Gordon collected the Doak Walker, Grange-Griffin Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year Awards. The Badgers’ runner was named unanimous First Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards.

In 2013, Gordon took over the backfield duties for the first time after Montee Ball left Madison, WI. The third-year tailback scampered for over 1,600 yards and 12 scores, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. In the nation, he was the only player to record three runs over 70 yards and tied for the most runs of at least 60 yards with four. 

When his college career ended, Gordon established an all-time mark for career rushing yards per carry, averaging 7.8. His total of 4,915 rushing yards ranks fourth at Wisconsin and eighth in Big Ten history. Without question, the Wisconsin ground game was fantasy gold for nearly two decades, and Gordon is the second Badger to be elected to the CFF Hall of Fame.

by John Laub