2015 NFL Draft Prospects: The Top-10 Most Pro Ready

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs the ball in the second half against the Auburn Tigers in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. The Badgers defeated the Tigers 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

No. 6: Melvin Gordon

Everyone likes to say that the running back position has been devalued but that’s not true. If anything, it’s the players that devalued it as your Adrian Peterson type athletes play receiver now. If you think about it, he and Marshawn Lynch were the last truly special running backs to come out in the draft.

Impact and Production

Make room for one more on that special list because Melvin Gordon has shown he’s just that with 2,587 yards rushing in 2014. He had 1,619 yards the year before so we don’t have to worry about the one-hit wonder thing with him.  And don’t worry about this first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten and Heisman runner-up’s competition either because he had 251 yards against Auburn of the SEC and 408 against Nebraska.

Abililty

He doesn’t have the greatest speed, running a 4.52 40-yard dash and he has been hawked (caught from behind). But he takes one step to get to full speed, helping him get 40 runs over 15 yards in 2014. He isn’t the strongest either with 19 reps of 225 but as Herb Adderley once said of Gayle Sayers, “He could stop on a dime tell you if it’s heads or tails and keep going and not break stride.”

Understanding

Gordon has excellent vision and patience to follow blocks and find holes to daylight. He also improved his ability to catch passes over the second half of the season, and it has continued into the offseason. He also improved in picking up the blitz, making himself a running back you don’t have to take of the field.

Next: No. 5