I haven’t written about my favorite football players in a while, so what better time to write than now? Although I’m not watching any NFL games this season until Colin Kaepernick has a job (read: The NFL Boycott) I’m trying to keep up with the league’s news on Twitter and through Jacob’s fantasy football stories. This month’s favorite is RB Melvin Gordon from the San Diego Chargers. I liked watching Gordon when he was at Wisconsin and I even rooted for him to win the Heisman during Marcus Mariota’s victory. Gordon was a fantastic collegiate back, playing three games during his true freshman season where he had 20 carries for 98 yards and one touchdown. After suffering an injury to his groin, Gordon applied for a medical redshirt. In his second season, Gordon had a few more touches at third string as the Badgers won the 2012 Big Ten Championship. On the season, Gordon had 62 carries for 621 yards and three TDs. There was much anticipation surrounding Gordon’s junior season after he announced his return to the Badgers. He was nominated as a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award in 2013 and he recorded 206 carries for 1,609 yards and 12 TDs. 2014 was Gordon’s season as he became a Heisman Trophy candidate and was on multiple preseason watchlists for the Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award. He set the FBS single game rushing record on November 15 with 408 yards in only three quarters. He earned multiple players of the week awards following the record breaking performance. At the end of the season, Gordon won the Doak Walker Award, was named the Big Ten’s Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year, Big Ten’s Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten Running Back and came in second for the Heisman Trophy. He finished the season with 343 carries for 2,587 yards and 29 TDs. After waiving his final season of eligibility, Gordon was selected as the 15th pick by the San Diego Chargers.
Gordon had a mediocre rookie season in 2015 as he had 184 carries for 641 yards and 33 receptions for 192 yards. He had no touchdowns and was put on injury reserve in December after sustaining a knee injury. Gordon returned to the field in 2016 as the Chargers’ first string RB, finishing the season with 254 attempts for 997 yards and 10 TDs as well as 41 catches for 419 yards and two TDs. He was invited to his first Pro Bowl at the end of the season.
