Melvin Gordon Can Still Crack 1st Round of 2015 NFL Draft

Nov 15, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) celebrates his touchdown during the game with the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Nebraska 59-24. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Todd Gurley was supposed to be the one.  Despite his four-game suspension from Georgia, the Heisman hopeful was the favorite to finally break the long streak of no running backs going in the 1st round.  His sheer talent and dominant aura made that almost a certainty.  Then it all came crashing down.

While there is no question he’ll be back and still has a bright future, his chances of cracking the top end of the 2015 NFL draft have evaporated due to tearing his ACL so late in the college season.  With him go the chances of any running back making it, right?

Well that was before Wisconsin star Melvin Gordon rewrote the record books by trampling Nebraska for 408 rushing yards in three quarters of action.  People already knew he was talented, but they didn’t know how dominant he could be until he did that, against a ranked team no less.

The comparisons to Kansas City superstar Jamaal Charles doesn’t hurt either.  Gordon isn’t quite as fast but the vision, decisiveness and ability to make defenders miss are nearly identical.  It stands to reason at least one team at some point in the first round will see his value and pull the trigger.

Todd Gurley deserves the honor, but Melvin Gordon can finish what he started.