Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon has decided to pass on the upcoming NFL Draft and return for his junior season.
Gordon is one of the most dynamic players in all of college football which makes him a hot candidate for the 2013 Heisman, the award given out to the nation’s best player.
“After talking it over with my family and my coaches, I have decided to come back next year,” Gordon said. “I love the University of Wisconsin and feel that there is still a lot of room for growth. Academically, another year in school will help me get closer to completing my degree and on the field I hope to help my team get back the Big Ten championship.”
Head Coach Gary Andersen also expressed his thoughts on the matter, “Melvin is a great player and a great kid and we are very happy with his decision. We tried to be very supportive throughout the decision-making process and relayed all the information he needed to make an informed decision. I’m glad he can now focus on the bowl game and prepare for a great 2014.”
Andersen should be very happy because Gordon has been electric with the Badgers in 2013.
With only 15.1 attempts per game (64th in the nation), he ranks 12th nationally with 122.2 rushing yards per game. Gordon makes the most of each and every carry as he ranks a top the nation at 8.10 yards per attempt in 2013.
His healthy average for yards per attempt isn’t a fluke either as the sophomore is FBS’s active career leader in yards per rushing attempt at 8.31.
Despite not being a featured back (paired with teammate James White), Gordon has amassed 140 rushing yards in 7 of Wisconsin’s 12 games this season. Only Boston College’s Andre Williams (8) and Washington’s Bishop Sankey (8) have more and they are feature backs for their respective teams.
If Gordon can help the Badgers succeed in 2014, there’s no doubt he has the play-making ability to be in the hunt for college football’s most prestigious award.
Do you think Melvin Gordon can win the Heisman Trophy in 2013 or is he making a mistake by not leaving for the NFL? Let me know by commenting below.
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. He also enjoys sharing Fantasy Advice and pretends to be a Golf expert from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best. If social media is not your thing, shoot him an email at grays@uwalumni.com.