Signed: CB Trent Gordon
WHAT HE DID: Gordon played varsity all four seasons at one of the top 5A programs in Texas, but didn’t become a starter until his sophomore year. During his career, the Mavericks won an impressive 51 games, losing just five. In fact, his senior season still hasn’t finished, as Manvel, who’s currently 14-0, will face Highland Park in the Texas 5A D1 State Championship Friday night at Cowboys Stadium. Throughout his three years as a starter, Gordon has totaled 106 tackles, 14 pass deflections and three interceptions.
WHAT HE WON: Gordon earned second-team all-district honors his junior season. Awards haven’t been announced yet in Texas for 2017. A member of the Rivals250, Gordon is ranked No. 241 in the nation in 2018. He’s the 27th-ranked player in Texas and the 21st-ranked safety. However, he’s expected to play cornerback for the Lions.
WHERE HE VISITED: Gordon earned just shy of 40 scholarship offers throughout his career. California, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA and West Virginia were some of the top schools that he visited. Michigan was believed to be PSU’s top competitor, but he ended up committing to the Lions on March 29, about two weeks after his first visit to State College. Gordon took four total unofficial visits to Penn State in 2017 before using official visit in October for the game against Michigan.
QUOTABLE: “When Penn State offered at first, I didn’t know much about them, the offers were just all coming in still,” he added. “As the weeks went on and they kept contacting me and I found out more about them, I realized this was actually a powerhouse school. That’s when I started falling in love with them.”
PHIL’S TAKE: At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Gordon hits like a 210 pound linebacker, but he also has 4.5 second 40-yard speed. A three-year starter at safety, he’s athletic enough to play the boundary cornerback position at the college level and is capable of pressing wide receivers and playing man-to-man coverage. He also was terrific in run support. I expect Gordon to redshirt his freshman season.
