RECRUITING : Injury doesn’t slow down Razorbacks’ commitment
Posted on Sunday, September 7, 2008
TULSA — Future Arkansas Razorback David Gordon played despite an injury Friday night and helped lead Tulsa East Central to an easy 57-0 victory over Tulsa Hale.
Gordon, 6-0, 170 pounds, 4. 4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, played cornerback and wide receiver, finishing with three tackles and a 16-yard touchdown on a flanker reverse despite not starting.
Gordon was injured the previous week in the All-City Classic.
“It was on a reverse,” he said. “I was running, and a guy come up and, it wasn’t the hit, but actually the going down part. I just strained some muscles and ligaments in my left calf. It just swelled up.”
Gordon will play football and run track at Arkansas, and even with the injury his speed was obvious.
“My leg is feeling a whole lot better,” Gordon said. “The coaches let me sit out three days of the week, and I feel overall I had a pretty good game. It takes time to heal, but I will be back at 100 percent next week.”
Gordon showed his speed on the reverse for a touchdown with 3: 56 remaining in the second quarter. His touchdown put the Cardinals up 36-0.
“I came off the edge and I saw our quarterback, who also plays receiver, block on the edge and another receiver blocked on the edge,” Gordon said. “I was thinking about going down the side, but I saw it right down the middle and I said, ‘Hey, put it up in there, you know what happens.’ So I just did it.”
Gordon also was happy to hear that Helena-West Helena cornerback Darius Winston committed to the Razorbacks earlier in the day.
“Man, that is wonderful news,” Gordon said. “If he follows through with everything, then me and him are going together as cornerbacks. The way they play, I hear it’s field and boundary, so I guess they will put more weight on him and less on me, but we will see how that works out.
“ It’s a great commitment and great choice. He’s a great kid. I got to talk to him. We had that friendship bond right off the bat. I’m looking forward to playing with him next year.”
In addition to Gordon, Arkansas’ Garrick McGee has picked up an oral pledge from Broken Arrow offensive guard Alvin Bailey, 6-4, 300, 5. 2. McGee and the Razorbacks also are recruiting Jenks defensive back Gabe Lynn, 6-1, 180, 4. 47, Tulsa Union athlete Terrell Williams, 6-3, 215, 4. 63, and Muskogee defensive lineman Robert Thomas, 6-1, 295, 5. 0. Lynn is rated the state’s top prospect by Rivals. com and others.
“I talk to Gabe once in awhile,” Gordon said. “I would love for Gabe to come over. If he plays corner or safety, I wouldn’t mind him being the safety over Darius, but I would love him being the safety over me. Two Oklahoma kids on the same side locking it down, that would be great.”
Gordon also said he is an extremely solid commit to the Razorbacks.
“I love Arkansas,” Gordon said. “Arkansas is Arkansas, and that’s where my heart is at. That is where I feel like the Lord has guided me. I will go where I feel is best for me, and Arkansas is the place. I love it down there. When I say I love the place, I love Arkansas.”
East Central Coach Travis Hill said the Razorbacks are getting an outstanding player and an outstanding person.
“David is a great athlete so he brings that to the table, but the other thing is the other intangibles David brings to the table,” Hill said. “First of all, he’s a supporter of all his teammates. He’s a very unselfish person. He’s able to take something that may not even be his fault and take the blame for it no matter what it may be just to make the team better.”
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