Wisconsin Running Back Melvin Gordon declares for the NFL Draft
By Peter Smith
Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon has verbally declared his intention to be in the 2015 NFL Draft. That is to say that he basically admitted he was leaving. On an interview with the Dan Patrick Show, Dan Patrick asked if Gordon was leaving after the Outback Bowl, to which Gordon stammered and nervously laughed. He then would go on to admit he was not planning to coming back. Later, Patrick circled back to make sure that was the case and Gordon said it was.
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Gordon was the country’s leading rusher and will be in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony where he will be up for the award with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper. Mariota is expected to win the award but Gordon had what was then the single game rushing record with 408 yards against Nebraska.
Gordon is a talented running threat as a tail back, but there are questions regarding fumbles and his ability to contribute in the passing game creating a range of opinions on where he ranks among the backs likely to be in the NFL Draft and where he could go. Even in the 408 yard game, Gordon fumbled three times.
The deadline for underclassmen to declare is January 15th and while nothing Gordon said in the interview is binding, it has long been expected that Gordon would go to the NFL after this season.