Dontrell Hilliard is a Featured Back for Tulane. Dontrell's 2017 season ranks in the 45th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 190 plays — a average 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Etienne | Clemson | 2019 | 213 | 0.470 | 4.7 | 100.1 |
| Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2016 | 288 | 0.340 | 3.9 | 97.9 |
| Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2017 | 240 | 0.410 | 5.2 | 98.4 |
| James Flanders | Tulsa | 2016 | 266 | 0.390 | 4.9 | 103.7 |
| Nick Wilson | Arizona | 2014 | 250 | 0.410 | 5.2 | 102.5 |
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 | vsGrambling | W43-14 | — | 11 | 36 | 3.3 | 0 | 2 | 77 | 1 | 0.31 |
| 2 | @Navy | L21-23 | -0.7 | 15 | 68 | 4.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 3 | @Oklahoma | L14-56 | 25.5 | 19 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Chart shows per-game EPA (bars) and rolling 5-game average (line). Season breaks marked with dashed lines. Line value = est. points over replacement per game.
Car 13 · Rush Yds 42 · Avg 3.2 · Rush TD 1
| 104 |
| 5.5 |
| 1 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 0.41 |
| 4 | vsArmy | W21-17 | -5.3 | 14 | 134 | 9.6 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.44 |
| 6 | vsTulsa | W62-28 | -10.7 | 19 | 175 | 9.2 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1.04 |
| 7 | @Florida International | L10-23 | -10.4 | 12 | 90 | 7.5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.63 |
| 8 | vsSouth Florida | L28-34 | 10.2 | 24 | 94 | 3.9 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 0.04 |
| 9 | @Memphis | L26-56 | 7.8 | 19 | 67 | 3.5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | -0.12 |
| 10 | vsCincinnati | L16-17 | -6.4 | 18 | 40 | 2.2 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.24 |
| 11 | @East Carolina | W31-24 | -14.0 | 28 | 189 | 6.8 | 2 | 1 | -5 | 0 | 0.35 |
| 12 | vsHouston | W20-17 | 7.7 | 18 | 52 | 2.9 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.18 |
| 13 | @SMU | L38-41 | -2.9 | 13 | 42 | 3.2 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.14 |
