David Montgomery is a Featured Back for Iowa State. David's 2017 season ranks in the 0th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 298 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 |
| Donnel Pumphrey | San Diego State | 2016 | 344 | 0.320 | 4.2 | 110.1 |
| Dalvin Cook | Florida State | 2016 | 292 | 0.340 | 4.3 | 99.3 |
| Breece Hall | Iowa State | 2020 | 301 | 0.340 | 4.5 | 102.3 |
| Eno Benjamin | Arizona State | 2018 | 316 | 0.330 | 4.6 | 104.3 |
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 | vsNorthern Iowa | W42-24 | — | 14 | 82 | 5.9 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.38 |
| 2 | vsIowa | L41-44 | 9.8 | 20 | 112 | 5.6 | 1 | 5 | 53 | 0 | 0.38 |
| 3 | @Akron | W41-14 | -17.6 | 22 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Car 24 · Rush Yds 52 · Avg 2.2 · Rush TD 0
| 127 |
| 5.8 |
| 1 |
| 5 |
| 46 |
| 0 |
| 0.24 |
| 5 | vsTexas | L7-17 | 10.6 | 9 | 34 | 3.8 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0 | -0.14 |
| 6 | @Oklahoma | W38-31 | 25.5 | 17 | 55 | 3.2 | 1 | 7 | 89 | 0 | 0.31 |
| 7 | vsKansas | W45-0 | -14.8 | 21 | 68 | 3.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -0.04 |
| 8 | @Texas Tech | W31-13 | 4.8 | 28 | 164 | 5.9 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.13 |
| 9 | vsTCU | W14-7 | 18.9 | 25 | 74 | 3.0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | -0.13 |
| 10 | @West Virginia | L16-20 | 5.6 | 26 | 115 | 4.4 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 0 | -0.05 |
| 11 | vsOklahoma State | L42-49 | 19.1 | 21 | 105 | 5.0 | 3 | 6 | 44 | 0 | 0.29 |
| 12 | @Baylor | W23-13 | -1.4 | 27 | 144 | 5.3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0.21 |
| 13 | @Kansas State | L19-20 | 10.9 | 4 | 14 | 3.5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0.35 |
| 1 | @Memphis | W21-20 | 7.8 | 24 | 52 | 2.2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | -0.24 |