| When Lamar Gordon weighed in before his first practice at North Dakota
State, the scale read 175. The 6-foot Milwaukee, Wisc., native had come a long way, but
knew his destination was many touchdowns away. Gordon took his official visit to
Wisconsin as a senior at Cudahy High School, and ultimately narrowed his decision to the
Badgers, NDSU and Western Illinois. Ron Dayne was still in the way in Madison, and the Big
Ten power couldn’t guarantee Gordon that he wouldn’t be moved from his natural
position to cornerback or receiver. Western Illinois, whose starting running back at the
time was current Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ reserve Aaron Stecker, just didn’t feel
as right as the Bisons.
Confident his talent would exceed any perceived detractions of being labeled a
"Division II star" Gordon decided to take his game to Fargo, where he would
start from Day One. When he left four years later, in December of 2001, Gordon owned the
school rushing record for more than a year, totaled 4,700 rushing yards — 1,727 as a
junior is the single-season record — 62 touchdowns and a career average of 6.0 yards
per carry. An established running back with solid credentials, Gordon realizes he
didn’t step foot on his proving ground until January at the Senior Bowl.
"It is kind of strange to think that nothing (at NDSU) really counts," said
Gordon. "But obviously, any player trying to make it to the next level realizes it is
a much different game. In high school, college, you can get around the corner and leave
people. That is no longer the case."
To make his case, Gordon needs to show evidence that he is more than a great
small-school back. Confident he would have been a very good player at Wisconsin, Gordon is
more than willing to let his talent do the talking.
"The only big difference I’ve been able to see is with the guys from the
really big programs," Gordon said. "They just know how to work out; you can tell
they are a lot more used to that (routine) than I am. That is the biggest thing. I need to
get to where I’m up there with them. I think I’m there in the football sense.
"When I started breaking down film in college, that is when I started to excel. I
take pride in my preparation and knowing my opponents. I have a good idea what you are
going to do and what the other team is doing. When you know what is going on, the only
thing to worry about is that one unblocked player; make him miss, make him look
stupid."
One knock on Gordon, who had his weight up to 212 pounds at the Senior Bowl weigh-in
Jan. 21, is a lack of leg strength. It isn’t a lack of speed (Gordon ran a 4.35
40-yard dash in Mobile) that necessitates building his lower body, but strength to finish
off runs between the tackles.
"He’s not as powerful inside as he could be," said one NFL scout.
"Some people think that has something to do with lowering his pads a bit more. He
runs straight and gets vertical at times when he anticipates getting hit. I don’t
think it is a power or drive problem as much as it is about learning to stay low and get
that bend."
Gordon said: "My legs, I usually just run, don’t work them out a lot. We are
doing a leg workout down here that is so tough. But this thing is incredible. You wake up
in the morning thinking about it and go to sleep feeling it."
Gordon is developing a knack for the weight room in Atlanta, where he is one of 30
players working out under the guidance of trainer Chip Smith. Other prospects at the
Atlanta facility include Northwestern’s Damien Anderson, Pittsburgh WR Antonio Bryant
and Georgia FB Verron Hayes.
"I think I match up pretty well with the guys that are here," Gordon said.
"There is not drop off. The thing I like about it is it is really intense. It makes
you work hard. I don’t know them, they don’t know me, but we have that common
ground."
Smith’s camp has produced better than 200 current NFL players, including Bears LB
Brian Ulracher, who gave Smith’s sessions a golden stamp for prepping him for the
2000 draft.
Gordon was confident he left no doubt that coming from a lesser program didn’t
hurt him after his Senior Bowl performance. Gordon answered questions about his ability to
catch the ball out of the backfield, block and get to the outside with an exclamation
during the week of practice prior to the Senior Bowl. Scouts mentioned to Gordon that he
had done so, and that he was "making a name for himself" by the end of the week.
"I guess it is a big deal for people to know you," Gordon said, momentarily
exposing his Fargo attitude. "I’m the type that will go with anything. I
don’t care about not being a name or people knowing me. I don’t need the
spotlight. I just want to work hard, do what I can do, and play football."
One question that remains in the minds of some teams is the health of Gordon’s
ankle. The injury, described by team doctors as sprained ligaments, occurred in the
Bisons’ seventh game of the season. Gordon crossed the goal line on a long scoring
run, and as he broke the plane, a South Dakota State defensive back grabbed a hold of
Gordon’s neck. The weight forced the ankle sprain, and held Gordon out for basically
the remainder of the season. Gordon suited up for each of his last two college games, but
managed only a few carries before re-injuring the ankle in both games.
"It took awhile to come back," Gordon said. "I still get some soreness
after a workout here and there. But in between training, I get therapy and rehab the ankle
and that helps take away any pain."
Prior to working out at the Senior Bowl, Gordon said he was hearing the most from the
Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills, though several teams have shown
interest. Business will peak once again March 1, when running backs go through physicals
and workouts for all 32 NFL clubs at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
"I hear a lot of stuff: ‘Could go first round, third round,’"
Gordon said. "I’m not getting excited about anything I hear right now. I know if
I go out and just play football, things will take care of themselves."
Gordon said he has no allegiance or unbreakable bond with his home-state Green Bay
Packers. Much like his decision not to attend Wisconsin, Gordon boasts it is not the location
of the stage that matters, only that one exists when his destination is made known April
20.
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