Melvin Gordon is a Featured Back for Wisconsin. Melvin's 2014 season ranks in the 93th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 342 plays — a elite rate for the RB.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel Elliott | Ohio State | 2015 | 311 | 0.480 | 8.6 | 149.3 |
| J.K. Dobbins | Ohio State | 2019 | 318 | 0.510 | 8.4 | 162.2 |
| Devin Singletary | Florida Atlantic | 2017 | 319 | 0.500 | 8.4 | 159.5 |
| Chuba Hubbard | Oklahoma State | 2019 | 343 | 0.450 | 8.2 | 154.4 |
| Ashton Jeanty | Boise State | 2024 | 393 | 0.430 | 8.4 | 169.0 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsLSU | L24-28 | 21.5 | 16 | 140 | 8.8 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.25 |
| 2 | vsWestern Illinois | W37-3 | — | 17 | 38 | 2.2 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Chart shows per-game EPA (bars) and rolling 5-game average (line). Season breaks marked with dashed lines. Line value = est. points over replacement per game.
Car 34 · Rush Yds 251 · Avg 7.4 · Rush TD 3
| 0 |
| 4 |
| 22 |
| 1 |
| -0.12 |
| 4 | vsBowling Green | W68-17 | -5.4 | 13 | 253 | 19.5 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1.67 |
| 5 | vsSouth Florida | W27-10 | -11.8 | 32 | 181 | 5.7 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.03 |
| 6 | @Northwestern | L14-20 | 1.5 | 27 | 259 | 9.6 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.57 |
| 7 | vsIllinois | W38-28 | 0.4 | 27 | 175 | 6.5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.52 |
| 9 | vsMaryland | W52-7 | 5.7 | 22 | 122 | 5.5 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0.36 |
| 10 | @Rutgers | W37-0 | -1.5 | 19 | 128 | 6.7 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.14 |
| 11 | @Purdue | W34-16 | -6.2 | 25 | 205 | 8.2 | 1 | 3 | 44 | 1 | 0.22 |
| 12 | vsNebraska | W59-24 | 13.1 | 25 | 408 | 16.3 | 4 | — | — | — | 1.02 |
| 13 | @Iowa | W26-24 | 6.8 | 31 | 200 | 6.5 | 2 | 4 | 64 | 0 | 0.29 |
| 14 | vsMinnesota | W34-24 | 6.8 | 29 | 151 | 5.2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0.29 |
| 15 | vsOhio State | L0-59 | 25.8 | 26 | 76 | 2.9 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.11 |
| 1 | vsAuburn | W34-31 | 24.2 | 34 | 251 | 7.4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.51 |
