Cameron Gordon, #4

Tag: senior profile


14Feb 2014
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Cameron Gordon, #4

Cameron Gordon

HIGH SCHOOL
Gordon came from Inkster (MI) Inkster in the class of 2009, where he was a teammate of Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, who was a year younger. Gordon’s senior season saw him catch 49 passes for 863 yards, and he also had 126 tackles, 5 sacks, and 5 interceptions at linebacker. Rivals ranked him as a 4-star, the #36 wide receiver, and the #233 player overall in his class. He chose the Wolverines in December 2008 over offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, Minnesota, and some MAC schools. Here’s my first TTB post on Gordon, where I claimed he was the most likely freshman to redshirt.

COLLEGE
Michigan’s head coach at the time, Rich Rodriguez, promised Gordon a chance to play wide receiver, which is where he took reps as a true freshman. During the spring of 2010, he made the switch to free safety and started 7 games there before moving to linebacker, where he started the final 6 contests. Altogether, he made 77 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, and 2 fumble recoveries (1 of which he returned for a 58-yard touchdown against Purdue). When Brady Hoke and his staff arrived in 2011, they moved Gordon to SAM linebacker. Bothered by a bad back and stuck behind Jake Ryan and Brennen Beyer, he made just 4 tackles on the year. With Beyer playing defensive end in 2012, Gordon saw his playing time increase and finished with 17 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 pass breakup. He was then named one of four team captains prior to the 2013 season and started 2 games while Ryan recovered from a torn ACL; Gordon turned in his best statistical year since his redshirt freshman season and topped off his career with 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, a team-leading 5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble.

CAREER STATISTICS
138 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions for 35 yards, 7 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries for 58 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 forced fumble


AWARDS
Second Team Freshman All-American, 2010
Academic All-Big Ten, 2010-2012
Team Captain, 2013


SUMMARY
I was always leery of Gordon as a wide receiver (and then as a safety) because of his size and relative lack of speed. He played linebacker in high school, and I rarely like the idea of moving guys back in a defense (see also: Josh Furman). Even though he had 3 picks as a redshirt freshman safety, he got burned repeatedly, including by tight ends. Once he moved to linebacker, he gave the Wolverines a little more speed and athleticism. I wish he would have played more over Beyer, but Gordon found himself somewhat limited once Ryan emerged as such a big playmaker. It speaks to his leadership and lack of complaining that he was able to become a captain despite being a backup for the majority of his career.


I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . . 
. . . his interception deep in the red zone against Indiana in 2010. He made a very nice play on the ball, and he helped secure a 42-35 win by stopping the Hoosiers on a potential scoring drive. He had a couple other picks, that exciting score against Purdue, and some nice plays early in his senior season, but that pick against Indiana still stands out.

PROJECTION
Listed at 6’3″ and 237 lbs., Gordon has plenty of size to play linebacker in the NFL. I will be curious to see how he performs at Michigan’s Pro Day. I doubt he will amaze anyone with his strength, speed, or quickness, but he has a nice combination of all those things. If guys like Tim Jamison, Roy Manning, and Shantee Orr can eke out careers as backup or practice squad edge guys in the NFL, I don’t see why Gordon can’t do the same thing if he wants. He’s more versatile than those guys since he can rush the passer and cover in space a little bit.

3Apr 2013
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Brandon Moore, #87

Brandon Moore

HIGH SCHOOL
Moore attended Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison and committed as a classmate of Roy Roundtree and Michael Shaw, but Moore committed in May 2007, several months before Lloyd Carr retired; the other two chose Michigan at the last minute in February.  Moore was the #8 tight end and #187 overall player to Rivals, but he was a 3-star and the #43 tight end to Scout.  He chose Michigan over offers from Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, and LSU, among others.  He had 20 receptions for 350 yards and 5 touchdowns as a junior, then added 518 yards and 4 touchdowns as a senior.

COLLEGE
Moore redshirted as a freshman in 2008.  During his redshirt freshman season in 2009, he played sparingly as a backup, gathering in 1 reception for 19 yards against Delaware State.  Still buried behind Kevin Koger and Martell Webb in 2010, Moore played in just two games.  With a dearth of tight ends on the roster in 2011, Moore played mostly as a blocker and special teamer, catching 1 pass for 9 yards against Purdue.  Most people presumed he would be the starter in 2012, and he indeed earned the job in the off-season, gaining the nod against Alabama in the season opener; unfortunately for him, he injured his knee and missed several weeks, giving way to walk-on Mike Kwiatkowski and freshman A.J. Williams.  He did not catch a pass during his senior year.

CAREER STATISTICS
2 receptions, 28 yards

AWARDS
#87 Legends jersey in honor of Ron Kramer


SUMMARY
Moore’s high school highlights seem to have disappeared from the internet, but he was a guy that Trotwood-Madison split out wide to use him for his athleticism.  The transition from that to being an interior blocker never seemed to work for Moore.  His speed diminished as he added weight, and he was no longer a mismatch; therefore, he was an H-back in a Y-receiver’s body.  I remember watching spring practice video from 2011 and being somewhat dismayed at the poor footwork of Moore, who was entering his redshirt junior year at the time.  It’s somewhat difficult to put a finger on why someone like Moore wouldn’t pan out in college – a kid with a reported 4.2 high school grade point average, who majors in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science, who was an athletic, big receiver as a high schooler – but that’s the way recruiting goes.  Some guys just don’t have “it” when it comes to competing against other high-level FBS athletes.

I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . . 
. . . his 19-yard reception against Delaware State.  For some reason, that image has always stuck in my mind, probably because it was the biggest play of Moore’s career.

PROJECTION
Moore is a 6’5″, 268 lb. tight end who produced very little as a collegiate athlete.  He lacks the athleticism and pedigree to make an impact at the next level.  I would even be mildly surprised if he gets signed as an undrafted free agent, and his football career is probably finished.

26Mar 2013
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Mike Kwiatkowski, #81

Mike Kwiatkowski

HIGH SCHOOL
Listed as a 6’5″, 235-pounder, Kwiatkowski attended Macomb (MI) Dakota but graduated in 2008 without any scholarship offers, despite some fairly solid production with 26 receptions, 351 yards, and 7 touchdowns as a senior.

COLLEGE
He enrolled at Michigan and spent a couple years as a student before making the team prior to the 2010 season.  Rich Rodriguez used him as a scout team offensive guard, but with Brady Hoke’s arrival in 2011, Kwiatkowski moved to his more natural position of tight end.  He played as a backup in two games in 2011.  Penciled in as a backup again in 2012, Kwiatkowski stepped in when fellow fifth year senior Brandon Moore injured his knee.  The walk-on would go on to start six games as a senior, making 4 receptions for 37 yards throughout the season.

CAREER STATISTICS
6 starts; 4 receptions, 37 yards

AWARDS
Academic All-Big Ten in 2012

SUMMARY
As you can tell by my season countdown preview for Kwiatkowski from last season, he didn’t completely come out of the blue.  In the few clips that I had seen of him from spring practices and such, I thought he had the right size and athleticism to be a contributor.  I didn’t expect him to be a starter because Moore seemed to have that job wrapped up, but the injury helped pave the way.  Kwiatkowski turned out to be a solid blocker (perhaps helped by that one season as a scout team offensive lineman) and a capable receiver (I don’t remember a single drop), although he wasn’t outstanding in any particular phase.  To start six games and catch a few passes is a pretty good deal for someone who only joined the team during what amounted to his redshirt sophomore year.

I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . . 
. . . being a walk-on who turned into a solid player.  I wish he had a couple more years left, because I think Michigan could really use him over the next couple seasons.

PROJECTION
I think Kwiatkowski’s football playing days are over.  He does not have the speed and athleticism to be a receiving tight end, and he doesn’t have the mass or power to be a blocking tight end at the next level.

20Mar 2013
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William Campbell, #73

Teric Jones, Thomas Gordon, William Campbell, and Boubacar Cissoko

HIGH SCHOOL
Campbell played high school ball at Detroit (MI) Cass Tech, and he was a prized recruit.  Rivals ranked him as a 5-star and the #5 defensive tackle, Scout ranked him as a 5-star and the #6 defensive tackle.  As a senior in 2008, he had 55 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 fumble return touchdown.  High school teammates Thomas Gordon (currently a starting safety), Boubacar Cissoko, and Teric Jones (the latter two of whom left the program early) joined him at Michigan as part of the 2009 class.

COLLEGE
Despite arriving at Michigan with little attention paid to technique, Campbell played immediately as a freshman; during that 5-7 season, Campbell made 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 pass breakups.  He began his 2010 sophomore season at defensive tackle, but he continued to be a backup and eventually requested a move to the offensive line in an effort to play more; he never saw the field as an offensive lineman, but he played as a goal-line fullback and made 1 tackle and 1 pass breakup throughout the year, along with playing on special teams protection units.  When Brady Hoke was hired prior to the 2011 season, Coach Hoke asked Campbell to move back to defensive tackle; while he didn’t start any games, he was an oft-used backup at both nose tackle and 3-tech DT, making 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 pass breakup, and 1 fumble recovery.  Campbell finally became a starter as a senior in 2012, earning the nod at 3-tech DT and making 44 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack; he was rewarded with All-Big Ten Honorable Mention at the conclusion of his career.

CAREER STATISTICS
63 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and 1 fumble recovery

AWARDS
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2012

SUMMARY
Many people will consider Campbell a bust because of his 5-star recruiting profile; he was a huge guy with good athleticism, and everyone thought he would be a stud.  Unfortunately, it was apparent during high school – and mentioned by numerous scouts, recruiting gurus, etc. – that he struggled to stay low consistently.  That was troublesome for him throughout his career.  He probably should have redshirted in 2009, but he was put on the field before he was ready.  Early returns were not good, and he got frustrated enough to request a change to the offensive line, which really didn’t fit his skill set due to Rich Rodriguez’s zone blocking scheme.  When Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison were hired after Rodriguez was let go, they moved him back to defense and taught him some of the technique that he had been lacking.  He made some “wow” plays at times by crushing opposing centers and guards into their own backfields, but he still wasn’t consistent enough to be greatly productive.  But he did eat up blockers and no longer got blown off the ball very often – like he did in his first two years – which helped other players make more plays.  It makes me wonder what Michigan’s defense would look like in 2013 if Campbell had a year of eligibility and good coaching remaining, but now the Wolverines will have to find a somewhat inexperienced replacement at his former position.

I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . . 
. . . dancing during his televised commitment during the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

PROJECTION
Campbell measured in at 6’5″, 311 lbs. at Michigan’s pro day after being passed over for an invitation to the NFL Combine.  He also ran a 5.15 forty, benched 225 lbs. a total of 35 times (which would have made him the #7 strongest player at the Combine), and ran a 4.71 second shuttle time.  His lack of production on the college level is a concern, and he’s also a guy with a reputation for an inconsistent work ethic; while he seems to have corrected his early problems with weight and hard work, he still loses focus on staying low and playing hard on every play.  Based on strength and athletic potential, I think Campbell might get drafted toward the tail end of the 2013 NFL Draft; he looks like a guy who might start off as a 3-tech defensive tackle in a 4-3 but might grow into a nose tackle as he packs on some of that weight once again.  I don’t think he’ll be a star at the next level, but he could carve out a niche as a backup lineman or a mediocre NFL starter for several years.

16Mar 2013
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Patrick Omameh, #65

Patrick Omameh

HIGH SCHOOL
Omameh attended Columbus (OH) St. Francis DeSales and picked Michigan over offers from a few MAC schools, Cincinnati, and Michigan State.  He was a 2-star strongside defensive end to Rivals and a 3-star, #87 offensive tackle to Scout.  As a member of the 2008 class, he was not offered by Lloyd Carr but received a late tender from Rich Rodriguez, visiting in late January and then committing on National Signing Day.

COLLEGE
Omameh redshirted as a freshman in 2008.  In 2009 he was a backup right guard and right tackle for most of the season before starting the final three games at right guard.  He continued as the starting right guard for the 2010-2012 seasons, starting the last 42 games of his career.  He was named Academic All-Big Ten in both 2010 and 2011, and his play warranted an All-Big Ten First Team selection by the coaches (Second Team by the media) in 2012.

CAREER STATISTICS
46 games played, 42 starts

AWARDS
Academic All-Big Ten in 2010 and 2011; All-Big Ten and Allstate AFCA Good Works team in 2012


SUMMARY
Omameh was a guy who always seemed like a poor fit to me as a guard.  He could run fairly well, but he has somewhat long, spindly legs that make him a little too top-heavy and unwieldy playing the interior positions.  It mattered less in Rich Rodriguez’s offense, which was mostly a zone blocking system that requires each of the five linemen to combo block with the guy(s) next to him.  By the time Brady Hoke arrived prior to the 2011 season, it seemed the tackle positions were already determined, so there was nowhere for Omameh to go.  But through two coaching staffs, it always seemed to me that Omameh would have been better off playing offensive tackle.  He played pretty well in pass protection and did a decent job of base blocking, but his pulling left something to be desired at times in Hoke’s offense.

I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . . 
. . . doing this against Notre Dame in 2010.

PROJECTION
Omameh was not invited to the NFL Combine, so if he wants to play at the next level, he’ll have to make an impression at Michigan’s pro day.  He probably doesn’t have the size and length to play tackle at the next level, and I don’t think he’s a powerful enough blocker to play guard in the NFL.  I think his best fit would be with a zone blocking team, such as the Houston Texans or Washington Redskins.  If he finds the right system, I think Omameh has the best possible future out of the three senior linemen in this class.