Mock Draft Roundup: Where Is Melvin Gordon Projected a Month Away From the Draft?

Nov 22, 2014; Iowa City, IA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) beats Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Greg Mabin (13) and linebacker Bo Bower (41) to the corner at Kinnick Stadium. Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN – Todd McShay

In his most recent Mock Draft 4.0 (subscription required), McShay doesn’t have the Badgers runner heading to an NFL team in the first round, and lists him as the No. 1 prospect available at the end of the round.

McShay ranks Gordon the No. 26 prospect overall in his top 32 rankings (subscription required), and had this to say about the Wisconsin product:

"“On tape he shows good, but not elite, top-end speed, and he verified that with a 4.52 40 time. He has very good patience and vision and does a great job of waiting for creases to open and then exploding through them with great acceleration off his plant foot. He can be a workhorse-type back in the NFL. He has shown improvement in the passing game, but there’s still work for him to do in that area.”"

The line that sticks out to me is “workhorse-type back,” and it shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s watched this guy play this year. Gordon flat-out plays, and certainly appears to have the work ethic and drive to succeed at the next level.

McShay, like Miller, expects Gordon to be an early second round selection.

Next: ESPN - Mel Kiper Jr.