Prospect Comparison: Todd Gurley vs. Melvin Gordon

theScore's prospect comparison series takes an in-depth, head-to-head look at some of the top players leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft.

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Todd Gurley vs. Melvin Gordon

Todd Gurley vs. Melvin Gordon

With both players having put together incredibly productive college careers, and possessing skill sets that should translate well to the professional game, Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon are the consensus top two running backs in this year's draft. 

Though there is plenty of evidence to suggest that the running back position has taken a hit in value of late, both players have the ability to step in as a feature back from day one, thus standing a chance to be selected in the first round.

Gordon holds an advantage in the medical department with Gurley still recovering from an ACL tear, but how do the two compare in terms of pure on-field ability?

Speed/Explosiveness

Gurley wasn't able to participate in any combine or pro-day drills as a result of his knee injury, but the explosiveness demonstrated on the field certainly indicates he would have been among the top-performing running backs if he had. A true home-run hitter from the offensive backfield, a combination of top-end speed and power is a key part of everything that makes Gurley such a rare prospect.

As impressive as Gurley is in this regard, Gordon matches and even slightly exceeds that ability. A 4.52 40 time won't turn heads, but this is a case of a player that plays at a speed far faster than he tests. Gordon was an elite big-play threat throughout his time at Wisconsin, due in large part to his ability to turn the corner, accelerate and pull away from defenders with ease.

Advantage: Gordon

Physicality

Though so many running backs with home-run speed are of a smaller build with a less physical style of play, Gurley's not one of them. With his incredible explosiveness comes a level of physicality that sees him shed tackles anywhere on the field with relative ease, appropriately drawing comparisons to one of the NFL's most dominant running backs: Marshawn Lynch.

Gordon's size and impressive frame would seem to give him the ability to be a physical runner like Gurley, but he runs by defenders more than he goes through them. A more physical running style would allow Gordon to become a productive runner between the tackles, making him that much more of a complete prospect.

Advantage: Gurley

Vision

With so many running backs on a similar level physically, vision is often the ability that separates the good from the great. There may not be one in this class that runs with better vision than Gurley. Being able to see and have a feel for the cut-back lane allows him to hit the big play time and time again, and such a skill should set him up for long-term success in the NFL.

For as many incredible runs as he pulled off at Wisconsin, Gordon will need to run with better vision to be a consistent producer at the next level. Winning to the edge and simply out-running defenders becomes that much more difficult when going up against the best of the best, and improving his vision between the tackles would see him cut down on his negative runs.

Advantage: Gurley

Ball Security

Fumbling issues are just about the quickest way for a running back to find himself on the bench, but ball security has never been a problem for Gurley. Having fumbled just three times in his 24 career games, of which he lost two, teams can find comfort in Gurley's ability to avoid turnovers.

Gordon, on the other hand, put the ball on the ground 11 times in the past three seasons, including a concerning seven fumbles in 2014. Issues with ball security are correctable, and Gordon could conceivably make the appropriate changes in fairly short order, but this is the kind of weakness that opposing teams would look to expose at every opportunity.

Advantage: Gurley

Pass Blocking/Receiving

Like so many backs making the transition from college to the NFL, both Gurley and Gordon will need to improve in pass protection. Where Gurley separates himself as a potential third-down contributor, however, is as a receiver out of the backfield.

Both players have the athletic traits to be successful receivers, and that area of a running back's game can certainly be developed over time, but Gurley is far more natural catching the football than Gordon is at this point. With this proven ability, and thus added value as an every-down player, his complete skill set becomes that much more apparent.

Overall Comparison

Advantage: Gurley

Gordon's abilities clearly make him a top prospect at the running back position, and one whose name could easily be called on the first night of the draft, but a head-to-head comparison shows just how complete Gurley's game truly is.

One of the top overall players in this draft, Gurley is a virtual lock to be the first running back off the board on opening night. Though he currently projects as a mid-to-late first-round selection, his rare skill set could easily have made him a top-10 pick were it not for his ongoing recovery from a knee injury.