Safety Thomas Gordon talks about his new role on the team, improvements on the defensive side of the ball and quarterback Devin Gardner's impact on and off the field.
CAREER HIGHS Tackles: 11, vs. Northwestern (Nov. 10, 2012) Solos: 8, vs. Northwestern (Nov. 10, 2012) Asst: 5, vs. Notre Dame (Sept. 10, 2011) TFLs: 2, at Notre Dame (Sept. 11, 2010) Sacks: 1, twice (last at Penn State, Oct. 30, 2010) Int.: 1, vs. Eastern Michigan (Sept. 17, 2011) FR: 1, four times(last at Illinois, Nov. 12, 2011) PBUs: 1, four times (last vs. Iowa, Nov. 17, 2012)
At Michigan ... has appeared in 34 games at safety, making 26 starts.
Senior/Junior (2012) ...started 13 games at strong safety ... SOUTH CAROLINA (Jan. 1) ... notched team-high six tackles ... OHIO STATE (Nov. 24) ... tallied his first sack of the season ... recorded eight tackles ... IOWA (Nov. 17) ... posted five tackles ... NORTHWESTERN (Nov. 10) ... tallied career-high 11 tackles, including eight solo stops ... MINNESOTA (Nov. 3) ... recorded five tackles ... NEBRASKA (Oct. 27) ... posted six tackles ... MICHIGAN STATE (Oct. 20) ... notched six tackles and one pass breakup ... ILLINOIS (Oct. 13) ... posted two tackles, including one TFL ... PURDUE (Oct. 6) ... recorded four tackles, including three solo stops, and an interception that was returned for 19 yards ... NOTRE DAME (Sept. 22) ... tallied six tackles, including four solo stops, and one intereception ... MASSACHUSETTS (Sept. 15) ... collected six tackles, including four solo ... AIR FORCE (Sept. 8) ... notched seven tackles, including one for a loss ... ALABAMA (Sept. 1) ... made career-high tying nine tackles and recorded third career forced fumble.
Junior/Sophomore (2011)... Sugar Bowl champion ... earned second varsity letter ... appeared in all 13 games; played 12 games at free safety, starting 10 games (Western Michigan, Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan, San Diego State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Michigan State, Purdue, Nebraska, Virginia Tech) and played all 13 on special teams ... team's third leading tackler with 67 tackles ... recovered a Big Ten-best four fumbles ... VIRGINIA TECH (Jan. 3) ... made eight total tackles ... ILLINOIS (Nov. 12) ... made two tackles, recovered a fumble and broke up second career pass ... recovered a Big Ten-best fourth fumble of the season ...MICHIGAN STATE (Oct. 15) ... led the team with eight tackles, including an assisted tackle-for-loss, and recorded a forced fumble for the second straight week ... NORTHWESTERN (Oct. 8) ... recorded six tackles, forced and recovered the same fumble ... SAN DIEGO STATE (Sept. 24) ... tied for the team lead in tackles with seven, recovered a fumble for the second straight week and broke up first career pass ... EASTERN MICHIGAN (Sept. 17) ... notched six tackles and earned first career fumble recovery and first career interception ... made the interception with one hand after the Eagles tried complete a trick pass play ... NOTRE DAME (Sept. 10) ... set career best with nine tackles.
Sophomore/Freshman (2010) ... earned first varsity letter ... started four games and appeared in nine contests at hybrid linebacker ... tallied 23 tackles, four TFLs and two sacks ... made collegiate debut as a reserve hybrid linebacker and on special teams vs. Connecticut (Sept. 4), recording two assisted tackles ... made his first career start at hybrid linebacker against Notre Dame (Sept. 11), posting a career-high five tackles, two TFLs and Michigan's first sack of the season for an 11-yard loss ... had three tackles, including one for a loss of two yards, in start vs. Massachusetts (Sept. 18) ... registered one tackle in start vs. Bowling Green (Sept. 25) ... accumulated two stops as a reserve strongside linebacker in Big Ten opener at Indiana (Oct. 2) ... recorded five tackles in start vs. Michigan State (Oct. 9) ... assisted on a tackle as a reserve at strongside linebacker vs. Iowa (Oct. 16) ... posted three tackles, including a sack for a ten-yard loss, as a reserve hybrid linebacker at Penn State (Oct. 30) ... made one solo tackle as a backup hybrid linebacker vs. Illinois (Nov. 6) ... did not see game action at Purdue (Nov. 13), vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 20) and at Ohio State (Nov. 27) ... did not play vs. Mississippi State (Jan. 1) in the Gator Bowl.
Freshman (2009) ... redshirted ... did not see game action.
Prep ... attended Cass Technical School (2009) coached by Thomas Wilcher ... National Honor Society member ... three-year starter at quarterback ... also played safety during career ... three-year varsity letterman ... ran 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds ... Key Statistics... made 30 consecutive starts at quarterback during his final three seasons ... threw for 2,917 yards and ran for 2,051 yards during his three-year career ... registered 89 tackles and five interceptions during his career ... passed for 1,347 yards and 12 touchdowns senior year ... rushed for 1,128 yards and 11 TDs as a senior ... recorded 57 tackles and three interceptions senior year ... threw for 850 yards and nine TDs and rushed for 550 yards as a junior ... passed for 720 yards and ran for 373 yards during his sophomore campaign ... Honors and Rankings... PrepStar All-American ... three-star prospect and the No. 24 overall prospect in the state of Michigan according to Rivals.com ... selected to The Detroit News Blue Chip list ... selected as the No. 42 overall prospect in the Midwest by SuperPrep ... All-Midwest region selection by Prep Star ... two-star performer according to scout.com ... rated as the 115th-best safety in the country according to scout.com ... earned all-city, all-metro and all-state honors as a senior ... named second-team all-city junior year ... Other Sports... played basketball and ran track ... averaged seven points and two assists per game as a sophomore ... earned all-city and all-state in the 4x100 relay and 110m hurdles as a junior.
Personal ... Thomas Lee Gordon was born March 20, 1991 ... father, Jessie, played basketball at Long Beach State (1980-82) ... high school teammate of current Wolverines William Campbell and Delonte Hollowell ...enrolled in the School of Kinesiology, majoring in movement science.
