Connor Heyward is a Pass-Catching Back for Michigan State. Connor's 2018 season ranks in the 0th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 159 plays — a developing rate for the RB.
Third-down weapon out of the backfield. Routes, hands, and separation in coverage define this role as much as rushing.
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 |
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 | vsUtah State | W38-31 | 14.2 | 5 | 42 | 8.4 | 2 | — | — | — | 1.04 |
| 2 | @Arizona State | L13-16 | 5.0 | 5 | 22 | 4.4 | 0 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 0.28 |
| 4 | @Indiana | W35-21 | 1.6 | 12 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Car 4 · Rush Yds 9 · Avg 2.3 · Rush TD 0
| 23 |
| 1.9 |
| 0 |
| 1 |
| 16 |
| 0 |
| -0.28 |
| 5 | vsCentral Michigan | W31-20 | -20.0 | 15 | 48 | 3.2 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0.13 |
| 6 | vsNorthwestern | L19-29 | 1.9 | 5 | 12 | 2.4 | 0 | 7 | 30 | 0 | -0.03 |
| 7 | @Penn State | W21-17 | 19.0 | 8 | 44 | 5.5 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 0.36 |
| 8 | vsMichigan | L7-21 | 22.0 | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0.03 |
| 9 | vsPurdue | W23-13 | 6.5 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.16 |
| 10 | @Maryland | W24-3 | 3.0 | 15 | 157 | 10.5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.64 |
| 11 | vsOhio State | L6-26 | 24.1 | 4 | 1 | 0.3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | -0.41 |
| 12 | @Nebraska | L6-9 | 5.4 | 21 | 80 | 3.8 | 0 | 5 | 78 | 0 | 0.16 |
| 13 | vsRutgers | W14-10 | -12.3 | 19 | 81 | 4.3 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 0.04 |
| 1 | vsOregon | L6-7 | 7.3 | 4 | 9 | 2.3 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.40 |