Taj McGowan is a Explosive Back for UCF. Taj's 2018 season ranks in the 75th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 67 plays — a above-average rate for the RB.
Elite per-carry efficiency — breaks big runs and creates chunk plays at a top rate while in a limited 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 |
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 | @UConn | W56-17 | -26.4 | 3 | 34 | 11.3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.70 |
| 2 | vsSouth Carolina State | W38-0 | — | 9 | 33 | 3.7 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.31 |
| 4 | vsFlorida Atlantic | W56-36 | -0.8 | 7 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Car 2 · Rush Yds 6 · Avg 3.0 · Rush TD 1
| 35 |
| 5.0 |
| 1 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 0.53 |
| 5 | vsPittsburgh | W45-14 | 2.7 | 5 | 36 | 7.2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.18 |
| 6 | vsSMU | W48-20 | -5.4 | 5 | 15 | 3.0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.26 |
| 7 | @Memphis | W31-30 | 9.2 | 4 | 81 | 20.3 | 2 | — | — | — | 2.58 |
| 8 | @East Carolina | W37-10 | -14.9 | 5 | 29 | 5.8 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0.08 |
| 10 | vsTemple | W52-40 | 2.9 | 6 | 56 | 9.3 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.78 |
| 11 | vsNavy | W35-24 | -10.2 | 6 | 16 | 2.7 | 1 | — | — | — | -0.34 |
| 12 | vsCincinnati | W38-13 | 5.4 | 6 | 50 | 8.3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.52 |
| 13 | @South Florida | W38-10 | -1.2 | 11 | 72 | 6.5 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.32 |
| 14 | vsMemphis | W56-41 | 9.2 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.01 |
| 1 | vsLSU | L32-40 | 24.2 | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | — | — | — | 1.52 |
