Melvin Gordon III

Melvin Gordon III's Biography

Melvin Gordon III, often called “the Flash,” was born on April 13, 1993, and is a renowned professional American football player. He currently holds the position of running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Esteemed as one of the most prolific football players of his era, Gordon’s journey through the world of football illustrates a career marked by significant accomplishments and relentless perseverance.

Gordon hails from Kenosha, Wisconsin, and was first introduced to football at Mary D. Bradford High School. A tremendously talented athlete, he played both football and track for the Red Devils, earning a reputation as one of Wisconsin’s most promising sportsmen. He exhibited exceptional performance on the field, racking up over 1,000 yards and scoring more than 10 times on 99 carries. He further displayed his acumen with his five receiving touchdowns, earning an honorable mention All-State and All-region by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) as a junior. Gordon’s prowess in track & field was equally captivating as he was one of the state’s top performers in the long jump.

Gordon’s journey of excellence continued in his college years when he played for the Wisconsin Badgers, where he had been regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and ranked the No. 24 running back in the nation. Gordon’s impressive display at Wisconsin garnered him unanimous All-American honors, and he won the prestigious Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top collegiate running back in 2013. Despite initial commitment to the University of Iowa, Gordon chose to play for the Wisconsin Badgers, a decision that would considerably escalate his football career.

The trajectory of his career took a remarkable turn when he was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, marking the beginning of his professional football career. Gordon briefly held the NCAA Division I FBS single-game rushing yards record with 408 yards, a record set playing in just three quarters against Nebraska in November 2014. He became the second all-time single-season rusher in FBS history with 2,587 yards, narrowly missing Barry Sanders’ record by a slim margin of just 41 yards.

In his debut year as a professional player, he was given the starting running back position for the Chargers, demonstrating the team’s confidence in his skills and potential. Over the course of his professional career, Gordon has solidified his reputation as a formidable player, a testament encapsulated in his fully guaranteed contract worth $10.66 million for four years.

Outside of the professional realm, Gordon’s influence and talent have acted as a catalyst for his teammates’ careers. Notably, he played alongside cornerback Trae Waynes in high school, who was drafted four spots ahead of Gordon in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Gordon’s football journey of more than a decade has encompassed numerous milestones, marking him as one of the most significant players in the world of American football today. His story exemplifies a journey filled with achievements, from high school to college and professional play, that continual performance excellence, hard work, and dedication can propel anyone to the heights of success.