If you watched Wisconsin dismantle Nebraska on a snowy Saturday in Madison, you saw history take place. Melvin Gordon had what I believe was the best performance I’ve ever seen by a running back. It wasn’t just the fact that Gordon set an all-time one game rushing record in the rout. He was absolutely amazing, hitting holes with great acceleration and running through the Nebraska defense as if they had guys my size (and age) playing. A truly remarkable achievement by Gordon and it was a thrill to watch.
So this brings me to to the 2015 NFL draft. I get it that running backs have fallen out of favor with the draft gurus and the NFL teams themselves. The average length of the career, the potential for injury, the fact the game is now more vertically inclined…yeah, I know all that.
Here’s something else I know. Melvin Gordon III is a game changer. If I’m trying to put a playoff team on the field, I want this guy in my backfield. If I can only get a few years out of him at top speed, so be it. I’ll take my chances that he’s that once perhaps every decade running back that can transform a struggling offense into something much better than that, and I’m talking from Day One.
One thing that’s virtually certain now is that MGIII is headed for NYC and a visit to the Downtown Athletic Club as a Heisman finalist. In fact, it’s probably now just a two-man race between Gordon and Oregon QB Marcus Mariota. I’m pretty sure Gordon left the rest of the field eating his dust with the incredible showing this weekend.
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