Well, it’s official. Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon is reportedly declaring for the 2015 NFL Draft, something we learned this morning on the Wednesday edition of The Dan Patrick Show.
It was speculated that Gordon would not return for his senior year, but the running back apparently made it official on Patrick’s show, which airs on Audience channel 239 on DirecTV. Here’s what the show’s producer Paul Pabst tweeted out on Wednesday morning:
Dan - "So that's official...you're coming out (for the draft)...playing in the Outback Bowl and going to the Heisman?"...Melvin Gordon "Yep"
— Paul Pabst (@PaulPabst) December 10, 2014
After that tweet, which seemed a bit unclear at first, Pabst cleared things up and made it official. He would go on to mention later in the show that the staff had a second source that confirmed the news we all have been awaiting.
Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon told us that he is skipping his senior season and going pro. @dpshow
— Paul Pabst (@PaulPabst) December 10, 2014
Gordon was announced as a Heisman Trophy finalist earlier this week, along with Oregon QB Marcus Mariota and Alabama WR Amari Cooper. All three will reportedly attend the ceremony in New York.
On most boards, the Wisconsin RB is looked at as a sure-fire first round selection. With Georgia RB Todd Gurley’s injury issues and other inconsistencies surrounding the rest of the class, it’s safe to say it’s likely that Gordon is the first back taken in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Others in contention for that top spot include the aforementioned Gurley, Miami’s Duke Johnson, and Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah.