Cory Schlesinger is a career quality starter β a running back whose body of work places Schlesinger in the top half of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Schlesinger's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.
A quality running back with a above-average career β a legitimate starter who contributed meaningfully across their career.
Worth 34 points of value above a freely-available replacement running back β top 55% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 9 of 11 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +3.8 on average.See board β
Seasons above replacement
9 seasons Γ ~3.8 surplus β VORP 34
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at onceβno tab hopping.
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Rushing | Receiving | Defense | Advanced (EPA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | TD | Y/A | TD% | 1D | 1D% | Fmb | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D | Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | Pass EPA | Rush EPA | Rec EPA | Pass AirYd | Rec AirYd | |||||
| 1995 | β | β | 16 | β | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 50.0 | β | β | β | β | 1 | 1 | 2 | β | 1.0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1996 | β | β | 16 | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | β | β | β | β | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1997 | β | β | 16 | β | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | β | β | β | β | 5 | 69 | 1 | β | 13.8 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1998 | β | β | 15 | β | 5 | 17 | 0 | 3.4 | 0.0 | β | β | β | β | 3 | 16 | 1 | β | 5.3 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1999 | β | DET | 16 | β | 42 | 121 | 0 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 9 | 21.4 | 1 | 34 | 21 | 151 | 1 | 61.8% | 7.2 | 4.4 | β | 6 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1999 | β | CHI | 2 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1999 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | -17.9 | -2.2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | β | DET | 14 | β | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 100.0 | 0 | 18 | 12 | 73 | 0 | 66.7% | 6.1 | 4.1 | β | 2 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2000 | β | TB | 1 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2000 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | -0.1 | -2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | β | DET | 16 | β | 47 | 154 | 3 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 16 | 34.0 | 0 | 85 | 60 | 466 | 0 | 70.6% | 7.8 | 5.5 | β | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2001 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 4.4 | -6.1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | β | DET | 15 | β | 49 | 139 | 2 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 6 | 12.2 | 2 | 54 | 35 | 263 | 0 | 64.8% | 7.5 | 4.9 | β | 13 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2002 | β | MIN | 2 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2002 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | -17.2 | -5.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | β | DET | 16 | β | 9 | 16 | 0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 5 | 55.6 | 0 | 34 | 34 | 247 | 2 | 100.0% | 7.3 | 7.3 | β | 11 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2003 | β | CAR | 2 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2003 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 1.4 | 11.6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | β | DET | 8 | β | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 1 | 25.0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 91 | 3 | 100.0% | 9.1 | 9.1 | β | 7 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2004 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 1.2 | 8.9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | β | DET | 6 | β | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 100.0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 31 | 1 | 100.0% | 3.9 | 3.9 | β | 2 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2005 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | β | DET | 4 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 8 | 8 | 36 | 0 | 100.0% | 4.5 | 4.5 | β | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2006 | β | NE | 1 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2006 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | -0.5 | 0 | 17 |
| Career | β | 166 | β | 167 | 470 | 6 | 2.8 | 3.6 | β | β | β | 251 | 197 | 1,444 | 11 | 78.5% | 7.3 | 5.8 | β | β | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | -26.4 | 5.2 | 0 | 17 | |
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Att | Yds | TD | Y/A | TD% | 1D | 1D% | Fmb | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 23 | β | 16 | β | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 50.0 | β | β | β | 9.7 |
| 1996 | 24 | β | 16 | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | β | β | β | β | 6.5 |
| 1997 | 25 | β | 16 | β | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | β | β | β | 8.3 |
| 1998 | 26 | β | 15 | β | 5 | 17 | 0 | 3.4 | 0.0 | β | β | β | 7.6 |
| 1999 | 27 | DET | 16 | β | 42 | 121 | 0 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 9 | 21.4 | 1 | 8.2 |
| 2000 | 28 | DET | 14 | β | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 100.0 | 0 | 5.7 |
| 2001 | 29 | DET | 16 | β | 47 | 154 | 3 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 16 | 34.0 | 0 | 12.2 |
| 2002 | 30 | DET | 15 | β | 49 | 139 | 2 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 6 | 12.2 | 2 | 9.2 |
| 2003 | 31 | DET | 16 | β | 9 | 16 | 0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 5 | 55.6 | 0 | 9.9 |
| 2004 | 32 | DET | 8 | β | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 1 | 25.0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2005 | 33 | DET | 6 | β | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 100.0 | 0 | 3.6 |
| Career | 154 | 167 | 470 | 6 | 2.8 | β | β | β | β | 88.3 |
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 23 | β | 16 | β | β | 1 | 1 | 2 | β | 1.0 | β | β | β |
| 1996 | 24 | β | 16 | β | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0 | β | β | β |
| 1997 | 25 | β | 16 | β | β | 5 | 69 | 1 | β | 13.8 | β | β | β |
| 1998 | 26 | β | 15 | β | β | 3 | 16 | 1 | β | 5.3 | β | β | β |
| 1999 | 27 | DET | 16 | β | 34 | 21 | 151 | 1 | 61.8% | 7.2 | 4.4 | β | 6 |
| 2000 | 28 | DET | 14 | β | 18 | 12 | 73 | 0 | 66.7% | 6.1 | 4.1 | β | 2 |
| 2001 | 29 | DET | 16 | β | 85 | 60 | 466 | 0 | 70.6% | 7.8 | 5.5 | β | 15 |
| 2002 | 30 | DET | 15 | β | 54 | 35 | 263 | 0 | 64.8% | 7.5 | 4.9 | β | 13 |
| 2003 | 31 | DET | 16 | β | 34 | 34 | 247 | 2 | 100.0% | 7.3 | 7.3 | β | 11 |
| 2004 | 32 | DET | 8 | β | 10 | 10 | 91 | 3 | 100.0% | 9.1 | 9.1 | β | 7 |
| 2005 | 33 | DET | 6 | β | 8 | 8 | 31 | 1 | 100.0% | 3.9 | 3.9 | β | 2 |
| 2006 | 34 | DET | 4 | β | 8 | 8 | 36 | 0 | 100.0% | 4.5 | 4.5 | β | 0 |
| Career | 158 | 251 | 197 | 1,444 | 11 | 78.5% | 7.3 | 5.8 | β | β |
A solid career by KV-H: a well-rounded profile that scores 54 of 100, era-normalized against rush yds/g peers across 11 scored seasons.
Blend 53.6 Γ longevity 1 = KV-H 54Β· confidence 98%
Season-by-season quality (era-relative rush yds/g)
Reached 13% of the all-time Receptions leader β a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.
A 0β100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data β career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence β so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite β₯ 85 Β· Strong β₯ 65 Β· Solid β₯ 45 Β· Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 92%.
Amber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average RBs aging curve. Group peak age: 21. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).
College stats are not imported for this profile yet.
StatVault has the verified college attribution (Nebraska), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters β every name is linked.
Cory inherited the Detroit Lions RB room from Tommy Vardell (1997β1998), and handed it to James Stewart (2000β2002).
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0β100%).
Last recorded season with DET
Drafted by DET β Round 6, Pick 192
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works β
Era-normalized career quality β z-scored against 11-season peers. See all β
Career durability β games played vs. scheduled, across 12 seasons.
Rush Yds translated to the 2025NFL β each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.
| Season | Actual Rush Yds | Rush Yds/G | β 2025 Rush Yds | β 2025 /G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 | 0.1 | 269+268 | 15.8 |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | 308+308 | 18.1 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0.7 | 288+277 | 16.9 |
| 1998 | 17 | 1.1 | 281+264 | 16.5 |
| 1999 | 121 | 7.6 | 385+264 | 22.7 |
| 2000 | 3 | 0.2 | 236+233 | 13.9 |
| 2001 | 154 | 9.6 | 306+152 | 18 |
| 2002 | 139 | 9.3 | 295+156 | 17.3 |
| 2003 | 16 | 1 | 149+133 | 8.8 |
| 2004 | 7 | 0.9 | 136+129 | 8 |
| 2005 | 1 | 0.2 | 106+105 | 6.2 |
Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:advanced-epa (CC-BY 4.0), wikipedia:season-stats (CC-BY-SA, facts-only), nfl.com:official-stats (games-played, facts-only reference) Β· multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle Β· updated 6/18/2026
Career Value Β· VORP
34 career value over replacement β #2514 all-time of 4,642. 3.1/season above a replacement-level RB.
Pick #192 (Rd 6) Β· DET Β· 1995 Β· +28.1 vs expected KV-H
Fan Rating
Rate Cory Schlesinger β All-Time
Explore More
Similar Players
Composite score across availability, IR frequency, and injury severity. See all β
The room is reconstructed from arrival order among durable members (β₯4 seasons with the club) at the playerβs position group β a lineage by arrival, not a week-by-week depth chart. Distinct from the league-wide positional GOAT torch.
Brad Hoover
FB
91% match
1995 Draft ClassmatesFull class β
Gave the Detroit Lions an entire corpus-attributed career β 8 seasons (1999β2006), one crest. The rarest loyalty in the sport.