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Posted on Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 1:49 p.m.

Spring surprise Cam Gordon wants to perfect his craft at safety

By Dave Birkett

Ask anyone associated with Michigan’s football program to name their breakout players of the spring and one name is at the top of the list: Cam Gordon.

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Michigan safety Cameron Gordon showed a lot of potential during spring football after switching to his position from wide receiver.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

“He’s really surprised me,” receiver Roy Roundtree said after Michigan’s April 17 spring game. “He’s a hard worker. He’s going to hit you. The other day we had a practice where I stiff-armed him to the ground and I told him, ‘I’m not no young boy out here. I’m going to play against you like I’m playing in a game.’ And then the second play I caught a reverse and he came and hit me so hard, I was like, ‘OK, you got me back.’ So he never lets up.”

Gordon wasn’t the only Wolverine who turned heads this spring. Denard Robinson made strides at quarterback, Taylor Lewan blossomed at left tackle, and Will Campbell emerged on the defensive line.

But considering the state of Michigan’s secondary - the Wolverines welcome three new starters to a defensive backfield that bordered on decrepit last year, two who’ve never played in a college game (Gordon and fellow safety Thomas Gordon, no relation) - he might be the most important.

A converted receiver who redshirted last year, Gordon switched positions at the behest of his coaches this winter. He opened spring practice third on the depth chart at free safety, but quickly took hold of the job after knee injuries sidelined both Vlad Emilien and Jared Van Slyke a week into spring.

Teammates praised his physical play, and coaches lauded his instincts.

“Cam Gordon has been really consistent all spring,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said. We’re “really getting some confidence with him.”

At 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds, Gordon’s physical presence is no surprise. He was one of Michigan’s most aggressive special-teams players on the scout team last year, turning heads with an array of big hits and bone-crushing blocks.

As a former receiver, no one doubted his ball skills, either, though Gordon said his backpedal is still a work in progress.

“I got to make it more natural, everything more natural,” he said. “They say my instincts (are) natural, but I really want to be a defensive back. Perfect my craft, that’s what I say.”

This summer, Gordon plans to spend his time doing just that. He played just one season of safety in high school, as a senior at Inkster after playing linebacker his junior year at Melvindale, and knows he's speeding through a steep learning curve in order to get ready for his debut this fall.

"I feel like the coaches, they just like the way I swarm to the ball and they just like the intensity," Gordon said. "They feel like having me on the field, I help the team as far as the energy. My opinion on that, I feel like I did good in spring ball, could have been better. Still got things to learn. Hopefully, when camp comes around with more practices I can keep on moving forward."

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

Comments

BowlForBlue

Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 9:45 a.m.

@ PortageLkBl. Good points on D.Rob, and I think he is a much better scramble than given credit for. Oh, he'll take some hits... but he'll scramble and avoid nearly all of them... all though it was a spring game, several things were much better with D.Robb - his quickness, reads, mobility, pass vilocity and accuracy... this kid has all the tools, remember Tom Brady played the same role at Michigan... watch for D.Rob to beat out sleepers like pryor and others and be the B10 best QB.

PortageLkBlu

Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 6:49 a.m.

Always nice to hear the pluses about our Wolves and their collective improvements as a team but, I look at all that at this time of year as pure hype and speculation. I want to hear the negatives about the team as a whole and as individuals this is the only way I can measure progress of which we are in dire need. If a D back in a spring game intercepts 1 or even 2x that's always nice but I want to know how many times was he beat how many times did he drop potential interceptions does he understand his game as a whole. Robinson looked great in the spring game but that's not a true picture of his progress not to mention can this kid absorb an Iowa defensive pounding or a collision with a buc linebacker cause in a real game he's gonna have to deal with that over and over and over and then some.

TRUEwolverine

Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 11:51 p.m.

Great to hear... It has been a long time since we have had a very physical presence in our secondary. It's players like CG that make those receivers get nervous when they're about to go for a ball, and it's definitely something that will help us in defending the pass. Looking forward to seeing helmets fly off this season... -wolverine

TRUEwolverine

Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 11:50 p.m.

Great to hear... It has been a long time since we have had a very physical presence in our secondary. It's players like CG that make those receivers get nervous when they're about to go for a ball, and it's definitely something that will help us in defending the pass. Looking forward to seeing helmets fly off this season... -wolverine

Steve the Wookiee

Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 3:21 p.m.

Were there so many 6'3", 200+ lbs receivers that he had to be moved to DB?

Terry Star21

Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 1:19 p.m.

Mr. Birkett... another fine piece of writing on a individual player perspective. This kid is big and fast, how about 'Gordon defense-safety Bookends' this fall with Cam and Thomas (no relation)? Thanks for bring up Lewan again and Campbell, oh.. we need Campbell to get Brandon mentality and have a breakout year. And D.Robb, he's just gonna be a breakout superstar, most improved B10... and maybe MVP B10, BCS.... the skies the limit!