Gordon no flash in pan

By David Mitchell     Sep 13, 2003

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
KU receiver Charles Gordon tries to elude a UNLV defender. The red-shirt freshman caught five passes for 70 yards and returned four punts for 106 yards last Saturday in his second college game, helping the Jayhawks claim at 46-24 victory.

Charles Gordon, who had a breakthrough game last Saturday against UNLV, won’t catch Wyoming by surprise today in Laramie, Wyo.

‘”Flash’ Gordon took a punt back and set them up,” Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said, nicknaming the red-shirt freshman who raced 82 yards on a punt return in KU’s 46-24 victory against the Rebels.

“He’s quicker than a hiccup. He makes people miss all over the place.”

That was certainly the case against the Rebels.

Kansas forced UNLV to punt on its first possession. Gordon caught the ball at his own nine-yard line and broke a tackle at the 13. He sprinted up field, eluded punter Gary Cook at the 41 and motored 50 more yards down the KU sideline.

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Kansas University red-shirt freshman Charles Gordon runs past UNLV's Ryan Claridge while returning a punt. Gordon returned four punts for 106 yards last Saturday against the Rebels and also caught four passes for 59 yards in his second college game.

Near the UNLV 10 he cut back to avoid one Rebel, and that slight hesitation allowed two tacklers to catch him from behind.

Gordon didn’t make it to the end zone, but his teammates did a few plays later when tight end Denver Latimore caught a one-yard pass from quarterback Bill Whittemore.

“It felt great,” Gordon said. “The crowd was excited. The team was excited. It felt great to contribute.”

Gordon hadn’t contributed to a victory in quite a while. The Californian had two 1,000-yard seasons at Santa Monica High, but KU coaches decided he should take a red-shirt season in 2002.

“I thought I was going to play and have a chance,” he said. “I traveled to the first couple games.”

He never got in.

“I was kind of mad,” Gordon said. “I like to compete and play, but after I discussed it with my family they explained that it was an opportunity to improve my skills and get stronger and faster.”

KU coach Mark Mangino said there was no question the red-shirt year was good for Gordon.

“He is more mature and has had a season to learn our system,” Mangino said. “The normal things that freshmen progress in from being a true freshman to a red-shirt freshman — that year of just knowing how things work at the Division I level and understanding what are systems ask of him in our special teams and on offense. He has worked hard in the weight room and gotten stronger.”

KU listed Gordon as 5-foot-11, 175 pounds in last year’s media guide, but Gordon said he weighed closer to 155 pounds when he reported to his first college camp. He would like to reach “at least 175 pounds.” For now, he’s at 170.

In addition to KU’s standard training-table fare, the receiver is doing some extra eating on his own time.

“I’ve been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at night,” he said. “Just as many as I can eat.”

Gordon’s putting up big numbers on the field as well. In two games, he’s caught eight passes for 149 yards for an 18.6-yard average. He’s averaging 23 yards per punt return, and his 82-yard scamper raised his own expectations.

“In the first game, I was a little nervous,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure I did everything right. In the UNLV game, I was more loose and had a better feel for what was going on out there on the field. After I made that play, it hit me that I’m capable of making plays in the Big 12 and at the college level.”

And he made several more big plays against the Rebels. Gordon finished his second college game with four catches for 59 yards and four returns for 106 yards.

“Playmakers make plays, and he has gotten off to a good start to be a playmaker for us,” Mangino said. “I don’t think that he did anything different, he is just being Charles. He is using his speed and agility. He is just a red-shirt freshman, but he really plays like a veteran guy.”

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