Gordon a strong asset for Mangino

By By Travis Robinett

Friday, August 19, 2005

When college football experts discuss Jayhawk football, which happens about as often as the Kansas City Royals winning a baseball game, one name always seems to be mentioned — junior cornerback Charles Gordon.

He has stardom written all over his new brighter shade of blue jersey. Some of his accomplishments last season were outstanding, especially considering he played on a team that won four games.

As a cornerback last season, he was a third-team All-American and a first-team all-Big 12 selection. As an all-purpose player and wide receiver, he was an honorable mention all-Big 12 selection. He has already been named to the Pre-Season all-Big 12 team this season, along with senior linebacker Nick Reid, by the Big 12 media.

Gordon finished tied for the NCAA lead with seven interceptions, led the Big 12 with eight passes broken up, recorded 57 tackles, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick.

While playing offense, he caught 15 passes for 150 yards, an average of a first down per reception, along with a pair of touchdowns. He even threw a 26-yard touchdown on a trick play to wide receiver Brandon Rideau against Texas Tech. Gordon is also only five yards away from becoming Kansas’s all-time leader in punt return yards.

No wonder Pete Fiutak of www.collegefootballnews.com wrote “while Miami’s Devin Hester and Ohio State’s Ted Ginn Jr. will get all the national publicity for their all-around abilities, KU’s Charles Gordon could be the best player of the bunch, and is certainly the best defensive back of the three.

When www.collegefootballnews.com asked who should win the Thorpe award, given to the NCAA’s best defensive back, Fiutak wrote that Charles Gordon might deserve the award, but Jimmy Williams of Virginia Tech had the inside track.

Answering the same question, Richard Cirminiello picked Gordon as the third runner-up. He wrote that Gordon was the best all-around athlete that just about no one outside Lawrence knows about, and you could pencil him in for another seven interceptions.

Gordon is so good that nfldraft.scout.com claimed he would be a top-60 player in the NFL draft if he entered after this season. The Web site said Gordon was easily the top prospect on the team and the best one to come from the program in a long time. The Web site also complimented his “superior technique and ball skills.”

This season, look for Gordon to continue doing what he does best. That is, playing on both sides of the ball.

“If we don’t have some of the young kids ready to play at the receiver position, it’s hard to ignore Charles as a playmaker on offense,” Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said at the 2005 media day. “I think we have a dilemma; a good dilemma.”

Robinett is a Austin, Texas, junior in journalism.

Gordon garners accolades, awards

/news/2005/aug/24/gordon_profile/

Charles Gordon makes Viking-sized return

The former Jayhawk football player has realized his dream and is returning ...

/news/2008/mar/27/gordon/

BREAKING NEWS: Charles Gordon going pro

/news/2006/jan/08/charles_gordon_going_pro/

Gordon tries to step up at Arrowhead

/news/2005/oct/17/sp_football_sider/

Good defense can spark better season

/news/2005/aug/25/sp_defense_column/

Gordon clear choice for secondary

/news/2005/aug/25/gordon_clear_choice_secondary/

Gameday Rankings

/news/2005/oct/21/gameday_rankings/

Kansas needs a new man calling the ...

/news/2005/oct/10/sports_robinett/

Kansas embarrassed by Griffin III, Baylor

The Bears set school records in total yardage in a Big 12 ...

/news/2010/oct/03/big-loss-in-bear-country/

Talib, cornerstone of football's defense

Talib's success started his freshman year and has continued strong throughout his ...

/news/2007/apr/24/football/

Morning Brew: Big 12 football’s best of ...

The Kansan takes a look back at the Big 12 and the ...

/news/2008/dec/02/morning_brew/

Jorgensen: Why wasn’t Cornish drafted?

Coaches need to find some way to recruit top players to bring ...

/news/2007/may/03/jorgensen/

Red zone woes lead to Jayhawk loss

/news/2005/oct/10/sp_football_gamer/

Mangino molding a successful squad

/news/2005/aug/12/mangino_column/

Jayhawk safety named to All-Big 12 First ...

Darrell Stuckey as well as nine other Kansas players earned recognition from ...

/news/2008/dec/03/big_12/

Headline: Talib consistently captivates Jayhawk fans

Tease: Kansas fans have never seen a player like Aqib Talib. The ...

/news/2007/sep/27/Dent/

Former players invited to NFL Combine

Dezmon Briscoe, Kerry Meier and Darrell Stuckey will work out in front ...

/news/2010/feb/16/former-players-invited-nfl-combine/

Nation: November 5, 2007

This is what happened this weekend in college football.

/news/2007/nov/05/Nation/

Football Notes: November 5, 2007

Here's this weeks Football Notes on the KU vs. NU game.

/news/2007/nov/05/football_notes_november_5_2007/

Football Notes: Nov. 15, 2007

Kansas junior Aqib Talib is already a finalist for the Jim Thorpe ...

/news/2007/nov/15/football_notes_nov_15_2007/

Breckunitch: Quarterbacks disappoint owners

While the quarterbacks were struggling in week five, many players at other ...

/news/2007/oct/10/fantasy/

Rush earns All Big 12 First Team ...

Collins wins Sixth Man of the Year; Chalmers, Robinson named to Big ...

/news/2008/mar/11/rush_earns_coaches/

Rankings for the KU-KSU football game

/news/2005/oct/07/sp_gameday/

Coaches should look to Luke

/news/2005/apr/13/sports_columns_robinett/

Fantasy Football: September 26, 2007

Donovan McNabb finally returned to Pro Bowl form Sunday, throwing for 381 ...

/news/2007/sep/26/fantasy_football_926/

All Big 12

The All Big 12 First Team

/news/2007/nov/29/all_big_12/

Achieving jumpers bring attention to sport

The competition took place near downtown and came down to mere inches.

/news/2011/apr/21/Achieving-jumpers-bring-attention-to-sport/

FAU hopes tough secondary, experienced coach can ...

/news/2005/sep/02/fau_preview/

Thibodeaux: Griffin III exploits Kansas defense

Griffin was special, but Baylor had other players who also impressed Saturday ...

/news/2010/oct/03/thibodeaux-griffin-iii-exploits-kansas-defense/

Kansas football defense must rebuild

New recruits and returners may struggle to take graduates’ places

/news/2009/aug/21/football_defense/

DeMontie Cross added to KU football’s coaching ...

Former NFL player and coach DeMontie Cross is welcomed to the KU ...

/news/2012/jan/19/demontie-cross-coaching/

Two Jayhawks sign free agent contracts

Holt will join the San Diego Chargers, Rivera the Chicago Bears.

/news/2009/apr/28/free_agents/

Football Notes: November 28, 2007

Here's what's happening in Football

/news/2007/nov/28/football_notes_november_28_2007/

Freshmen play to impress

Stellar freshmen athletes from around the country seek to shine in this ...

/news/2007/nov/30/basketball/

Mangino could still learn from his former ...

/news/2005/oct/10/sports_berk/

Morning Brew: Jamaal Charles owes All-Pro pick ...

Jamaal Charles has the assistance of the entire Chiefs’ offense to thank ...

/news/2011/jan/26/morning-brew-jamaal-charles-owes-all-pro-pick-chie/

Buffaloes don't back down from tough schedule

/news/2005/aug/30/colorado_preview/

Big 12 North football previews

Big 12 North football previews for Nebraska, Iowa State, Colorado, Missouri and ...

/news/2009/aug/20/big_12_north_football_previews/

Nation’s weekend pigskin roundup

TEASE

/news/2007/nov/19/nation/

Morning Brew: Riggins brings back memories

Recalling John Riggins’ Super Bowl MVP performance and love of The Wheel

/news/2009/jan/29/riggins/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID