Wisconsin junior running back Melvin Gordon confirmed on the “Dan Patrick Show” Wednesday morning what most expected that he will skip his senior season and enter the 2015 NFL Draft.
Gordon is currently ranked as the No. 1 running back prospect for the 2015 class by NFLDraftScout.com and a potential first round pick. The running back position has been shut out of the first round the past two years and Gordon is considered the best chance to snap that two-year year streak. Georgia's Todd Gurley might be the best talent at the running back position in this draft class, but his recent ACL surgery clouds his draft projection.
A Heisman Trophy finalist, Gordon became the fastest running back in FBS history to reach the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a season, achieving it in just 241 rush attempts. He enters the bowl game with 2,336 yards rushing this season on 309 carries (7.6 average) and 26 touchdowns. Gordon also tallied a career-high 17 catches in 2014, adding three scores receiving.
Gordon has electric feet to make defenders miss with deceiving power to press the line of scrimmage and barrel forward for positive yards. He plays extremely fast with instant reactions, which makes it tough for would-be tacklers to square up and finish him. Gordon is at his best using his acceleration and balance to bounce runs outside and race downfield and most of his highlight reel runs include jump stops with the ability to instantly turn on the jets.
The key for Gordon's NFL Draft grade is his ability as a pass catcher and blocker, allowing him to hold up as an every down back at the next level.
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Report: Cardinals will shut down RB Andre Ellington for rest of season
The Cardinals notched their 10th victory of the season Sunday and currently sit with the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If they want to hold onto their lofty perch, they will have to do so without their leading rusher. According to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 AM in Arizona, Ellington will be placed on injured reserve because of hip and groin injuries. Jurecki reports that Ellington will visit a specialist in Philadelphia this week to find out the extent of his injuries. Jurecki says that Ellington has a sports hernia to go along with his hip pointer. Plus, prior to Week 14, Ellington had been playing through a torn ligament in his foot for the entire season.His season will end after 201 carries and 660 rushing yards (3.3 yards per carry). He also caught 46 passes for 395 yards. Ellington scored five total touchdowns.
Ellington's production had really fallen off since Week 10. It's plausible to think the 200-pound back simply broke down after three consecutive games (Weeks 7-9) with at least 20 carries. After Week 9, Ellington didn't gain more than 42 rushing yards in any contest, averaged fewer than 2 yards per carry and had just one rush longer than 9 yards. He's an exciting player, but perhaps this year taught us that Ellington isn't made to be a workhorse-type back. At least Bruce Arians gave him a chance to be just that.On Sunday against Kansas City, Stepfan Taylor and Marion Grice were expected to lead Arizona's backfield. So, of course Kerwynn Williams, who was signed off of the practice squad Friday, was given 19 carries and collected 100 yards. Taylor got the start, but gained 26 yards on just seven touches. Grice took three carries for 6 yards. This Cardinals rushing attack has a tough matchup in Week 15 as it will visit the Rams on Thursday night. I can't imagine any owner vying to play for a fantasy championship would trust Williams, a second-year seventh-round pick from Utah State, after one good game. Today's work represented Williams' first offensive touches in an NFL game. He, like Ellington, is an undersized player. He stands at just 5-foot-8 and 198 pounds.
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