Gordon has the elusiveness and speed of a home-run threat. Expect to hear his name called on Day 1.

Important NFL Combine Numbers
40-Yard Dash: 4.52
Vertical Jump: 35”
Broad Jump: 10’ 6”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.07
3-Cone: 7.04

Background (College Stats)
Gordon served as Wisconsin’s bell-cow back for only one year, which proved to be enough for him to finish with the second-best single-season rushing total in FBS history (2,587 yards) – 41 fewer than Barry Sanders’ all-time record. The 2014 Doak Walker Award winner averaged 184.8 rushing yards – the most since LaDainian Tomlinson averaged 196.2 in 2000 – and even broke the legendary TCU back’s single-game rushing record of 408 yards in only three quarters against Nebraska on Nov. 15, but saw that mark fall the following week when Oklahoma freshman Samaje Perine ripped Kansas for 427. Nevertheless, Gordon is one of only 17 players in FBS history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season and set the FBS record for the fewest carries to reach that mark (241). He also owns the FBS record for career rushing average at 7.79 YPC.

NFL Player Comp(s): A more rocked-up but slightly less explosive Jamaal Charles

Best Scheme Fit: Could make a decent living behind a man-blocking line, but his narrow base might give coaches pause when it comes to running him in between the tackles consistently. His vision, elusiveness at the second level, acceleration and ability to do damage on the perimeter of the defense make him a better fit for a team that utilizes more outside zone-based runs.

Strengths

• Serious big-play threat – 40 runs of 15 yards or more in 2014 alone and 15 career runs over 50 yards – that doesn’t try to “force it”.
  
• Relishes the opportunity to get outside the tackles; accumulated a significant amount of yardage on counter plays, allowing him to flash his initial burst, which is as good – if not better – than any back in the draft.
  
• Has a bit more thump than given credit for; fearless runner that will churn out extra yards on occasion and builds up enough steam to consistently fall forward after contact despite less-than-ideal lower-body power.
  
• Keeps feet moving in the hole and maintains his balance; operates well in tight spaces and trusts his eyes.
  
• Displays a knack of knowing when to cut back; rarely gets ahead of himself and sets up second-level defenders, which are perhaps the main reasons he breaks so many long runs.
  
• Durable as well as mentally and physically tough; maintains first-quarter explosiveness even as defenders began to wear down in second half.
  

Weaknesses

• Is not afraid to run in between the tackles, but currently lacks the leg drive to move the pile and is not a “chain mover”’; stuffed” (runs resulting in no yards or a loss) on 19.2 percent of his carries and was caught from behind on a number of his long runs.
  
• Doesn’t always keep ball high-and-tight – committed seven of his 12 career fumbles in 2014, including six over his final five games.
  
• Does not anchor in pass protection and allows himself to get driven back into the quarterback (How much time did Wisconsin spend on developing Gordon in this area when it averaged only 23 passes per game?).
  
• Ability to serve as anything more than a dump-off option in the passing game is also a question mark at this point given the Badgers’ limited passing offense.
  
• While not a major issue when compared to previously-drafted “big-play backs”, he bounces runs a bit more often than he should.
  

Bottom Line
To a degree, Gordon could a bit of a victim of his own success and the inability of Wisconsin to surround him with much in the way of passing game talent – at quarterback and receiver – if fans and fantasy owners expect instant success from him. Because he was so productive throughout his career as a runner, Wisconsin rarely ever needed the 2014 Heisman Trophy finalist in the passing game, which helps to explain his 22 career receptions and current shortcomings in pass protection. To his credit, Gordon made it a priority to improve in the passing game in 2014 and, for the most part, he succeeded. The strides he made as a receiver and blocker from his sophomore to junior seasons suggest he is more than willing to do what it takes to eventually become an accomplished three-down back. Ideally, Gordon will add more lower-body power in order to run in between the tackles with more confidence, but should not be confused with “satellite backs” such as a young Reggie Bush or C.J. Spiller either, even if he does bounce the occasional run to the outside when he shouldn’t. I’d feel more comfortable with Gordon leading a committee backfield initially, with the understanding he may be less than a year away from becoming a feature back. His flaws – perhaps with the exception of his fumbling woes – should be correctable assuming he gets to work with a solid position coach, but are concerning enough that he shouldn’t be considered a lock as a first-round prospect.