Ellis Merriweather is a Featured Back for Massachusetts. Ellis's 2021 season ranks in the 0th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 226 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.
Meaningful starter. Local collective + position-group deals.
Tier is a model estimate based on position, school brand, performance rank, and usage — not a reported deal. NIL deals are private. For a real market valuation, see On3's NIL profile, which factors in social following and actual deal tracking.
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 |
| Breece Hall | Iowa State | 2020 | 301 | 0.340 | 4.5 | 102.3 |
| Donnel Pumphrey | San Diego State | 2016 | 344 | 0.320 | 4.2 | 110.1 |
| 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 | @Pittsburgh | L7-51 | 17.6 | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | -0.66 |
| 2 | vsBoston College | L28-45 | 0.9 | 11 | 56 | 5.1 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 0.07 |
| 3 | vsEastern Michigan | L28-42 | -7.8 | 23 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Car 23 · Rush Yds 168 · Avg 7.3 · Rush TD 2
| 144 |
| 6.3 |
| 0 |
| 2 |
| 20 |
| 0 |
| 0.34 |
| 4 | @Coastal Carolina | L3-53 | 13.2 | 6 | 30 | 5.0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 0 | -0.03 |
| 5 | vsToledo | L7-45 | 6.9 | 5 | 11 | 2.2 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.39 |
| 6 | vsUConn | W27-13 | -25.6 | 39 | 171 | 4.4 | 2 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0.04 |
| 8 | @Florida State | L3-59 | 7.6 | 10 | 1 | 0.1 | 0 | 4 | 65 | 0 | 0.05 |
| 9 | @Liberty | L17-62 | 8.4 | 24 | 149 | 6.2 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0.08 |
| 10 | vsRhode Island | L22-35 | — | 30 | 118 | 3.9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | -0.07 |
| 11 | vsMaine | L10-35 | — | 27 | 177 | 6.6 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 0.28 |
| 12 | @Army | L17-33 | 4.7 | 17 | 110 | 6.5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0.26 |
| 13 | @New Mexico State | L27-44 | -24.2 | 23 | 168 | 7.3 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 0.48 |