Melvin Gordon

The San Diego Chargers wanted to make sure they picked up a weapon in the NFL Draft, so they traded up two spots to secure former Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon with the 15th pick overall.

Gordon, who finished as a Heisman Award finalist and the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year, becomes the fourth consecutive Wisconsin back to be drafted and the first since 2001.

For the UW program, Gordon’s selection is the 29th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft, and extends a consecutive years streak of having a player drafted to 37.

Gordon helped Wisconsin to a Big Ten West Division title and an Outback Bowl victory in his final season.

In high school, he played alongside Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes at Kenosha Bradford, winning a WIAA Division 1 state title in 2011. Waynes was taken four spots ahead of Gordon by the Minnesota Vikings.