Melvin Gordon III

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gordon's path to the NFL began in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he was born and raised. He attended Mary D. Bradford High School, where he was a two-sport star in football and track. As a senior, he rushed for 2,009 yards with 38 touchdowns and was named the Wisconsin Gatorade Football Player of the Year. In college at Wisconsin, Gordon shared the backfield with Montee Ball and James White before becoming the featured back in 2014. That season, he rushed for 2,587 yards, becoming the second-leading all-time single-season rusher in FBS history, falling 41 yards shy of Barry Sanders' record. He was a Heisman Trophy contender and won the Doak Walker Award.

In Their Own Story

On November 15, 2014, Gordon broke LaDainian Tomlinson's 15-year-old FBS single-game rushing record, totaling 408 yards against the #16 Nebraska Cornhuskers. He scored four rushing touchdowns on only 25 carries in three quarters of play. Reflecting on the record, which stood for only a week before Samaje Perine broke it, Gordon said: "That's disappointing, to have that. But congrats to that guy; that's really not easy to do." Gordon also broke the 339-yard school record held by Ron Dayne since 1996, and the 377-yard Big Ten Conference record held by Anthony Thompson since 1989. He was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.

Reader's Guide

Gordon was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft with the 15th overall pick. He was also a member of the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens. In his college career at Wisconsin, Gordon played under head coaches Bret Bielema, Barry Alvarez, and Gary Andersen. After his 2014 season, Gordon was named the Big Ten's Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year and the Big Ten's Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year. He was one of three Heisman finalists that year.

Did You Know?

• Gordon briefly held the NCAA Division I FBS single-game rushing record with 408 yards, set in three quarters against Nebraska in November 2014.
• He became the second-leading all-time single-season rusher in FBS history with 2,587 yards, falling 41 yards shy of Barry Sanders' record.
• Gordon was the Wisconsin Gatorade Football Player of the Year as a senior in high school.
• He played on the same high school team as cornerback Trae Waynes, who was selected four spots ahead of Gordon in the 2015 NFL draft.
• Gordon was a track & field standout in high school, recording a career-best long jump of 7.20 meters (23 ft 7 in) at the WIAA State Championships.