Alex Gardner is a Featured Back for Florida International. Alex's 2016 season ranks in the 0th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 212 plays — a developing rate for the RB.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2016 | 288 | 0.340 | 3.9 | 97.9 |
| Dalvin Cook | Florida State | 2016 | 292 | 0.340 | 4.3 | 99.3 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsIndiana | L13-34 | 4.6 | 10 | 23 | 2.3 | 1 | 7 | 70 | 0 | 0.30 |
| 2 | vsMaryland | L14-41 | -0.6 | 16 | 109 | 6.8 | 1 | — | — | — | -0.19 |
| 3 | @Massachusetts | L13-21 | -15.3 | 23 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Car 10 · Rush Yds 53 · Avg 5.3 · Rush TD 0
| 130 |
| 5.7 |
| 1 |
| 4 |
| 35 |
| 0 |
| 0.23 |
| 4 | vsUCF | L14-53 | -2.2 | 8 | 26 | 3.3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | -0.14 |
| 5 | vsFlorida Atlantic | W33-31 | -14.1 | 27 | 119 | 4.4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.03 |
| 6 | @UTEP | W35-21 | -16.1 | 21 | 141 | 6.7 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0.41 |
| 7 | @Charlotte | W27-26 | -20.9 | 12 | 29 | 2.4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | -0.34 |
| 8 | vsLouisiana Tech | L24-44 | 3.1 | 13 | 61 | 4.7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | -0.03 |
| 9 | vsMiddle Tennessee | L35-42 | -1.9 | 19 | 95 | 5.0 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 0.07 |
| 10 | @Western Kentucky | L21-49 | 15.5 | 8 | 25 | 3.1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -0.32 |
| 12 | vsMarshall | W31-14 | -12.7 | 14 | 119 | 8.5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0.25 |
| 13 | @Old Dominion | L28-42 | -0.7 | 10 | 53 | 5.3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.11 |