Not long after committing to Washington, Gordon earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, but he’s got a five-star name. He becomes the sixth player to commit to Kalen DeBoer’s coaching staff for the class of 2023, and he could end up seeing a rise similar to Davon Banks, who was also unranked before announcing his commitment to Jimmy Lake’s coaching staff at the end of the 2021 recruiting cycle.

“The energy of the staff there and how they coach you up, that was big for me to see,” Gordon said in an interview with 247 Sports. “It is the place to be. I think more guys are going to be committing there soon and I want to be part of it. I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited.”

Co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chuck Morrell was his primary recruiter, and while Gordon mentioned that the staff likes his versatility and athleticism, it appears that they’re going to try him out at safety when he gets on campus. So, why take a developmental prospect without a ton of offers this early in the process?

It’s simple really, not only does every roster need developmental pieces with projectable athleticism like Gordon, but it seems like he hasn’t even gotten close to his ceiling with his senior season in front of him. He missed four games during his junior year due to an illness, and playing in one of the toughest divisions in the country, Texas 5A, he’s going to get a lot of quality reps against good competition.

On film, one of the first things you notice is that Gordon is a sure tackler.  Reportedly measuring in at 6-1 and 175 pounds, he doesn’t lay guys out with the same force that someone like Asa Turner did in high school, but he’s a sure tackler that knows how to wrap up and not let ball carriers out of his grasp. He’s got great straight-line speed, and has spent the offseason working on improving mobility and quickness in his hips, which he displayed in some drills he posted on his HUDL.

Could this also be an opportunity for the staff to build more relationships in Texas? With four-star defensive lineman Anthony James, and four-star safety Jordan Sanford, both from the Lone Star State, visiting Washington from June 24th-26th, having a peer recruiter nearby can’t hurt.