Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, December 10, 2014
First, it was Michigan receiver Devin Funchess announcing he was turning pro. Now, Wisconsin?s Melvin Gordon has followed suit.
The Badger junior running back told the "Dan Patrick Show" that he will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL after the Outback Bowl vs. Auburn. He is projected to be a mid-to-late first-round selection by most draft pundits. Gordon has run 597 times for 4,664 yards and 42 touchdowns for Wisconsin.
Gordon is a Heisman finalist and the 2014 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for a league single-season record 2,336 yards, which leads the nation. Gordon set the FBS single-game rushing mark with 408 yards vs. Nebraska in November, which was broken the subsequent week by Oklahoma?s Samaje Perine. Gordon needs 293 yards rushing vs. Auburn to break Barry Sanders 1988 FBS single-season rushing standard of 2,628 yards.
The Badgers? rushing game will be in good hands next season with Corey Clement becoming the top threat. The junior-to-be has rushed 132 times for 844 yards and nine TDs this season. The 5-11, 210-pound Clement has 1,391 career yards.
| About Tom Dienhart | BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section. |
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