Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Melvin Gordon attended Mary D. Bradford Highschool where he excelled in both football and track and field. Gordon was took home second place in the 2011 state track and field championship. In the same senior season, Gordon rushed for 2,009 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Gordon originally committed to Iowa as a four star recruit but instead opted to attend Wisconsin. Gordon saw limited opportunities until his true junior year when he rushed for 1,609 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns. He followed this season with record breaking senior season where he broke the NCAA record for highest average rushing yards per carry after rushing for 2,587 yards on 343 attempts and scoring 32 total touchdowns. After this prolific season, Gordon declared for the 2015 NFL Draft.
Gordon participated in the NFL combine running a 4.52 40-time and posting above average athletic metrics. He was selected in with the 15th pick of the first round for the San Diego Chargers. In his rookie season, Melvin Gordon formed a committee with Danny Woodhead with Woodhead out scoring Gordon in fantasy points by a substantial margin. The next three seasons, Gordon emerged as the Chargers bell cow seeing at least 63-percent of the opportunity share in route to multiple top six finishes in fantasy points per game. Gordon’s final year with the Chargers in 2019 saw him cede additional opportunities to Austin Ekeler and he failed to crest 1,000 total yards of offense for the first time since his rookie season.
Gordon signed a contract with the Denver Broncos entering the 2020 season immediately exceeded 1,000 yards of total offense again. In the 2021 season, Gordon formed a committee with rookie Javonte Williams and essentially mirror each other’s production. Even approaching his age 29 season, Gordon was able to evade 76 tackles (no. 7). Gordon is presently a free agent but it is highly likely that he forms a committee someone next season and should continue to be a consistent NFL producer.
