Meet Vikings Defensive Back # 41 Charles Gordon

Charles Gordon was born on July 18, 1984, in Los Angeles California. Gordon was recruited by the University of Kansas in 2002 as a wide receiver. He red shirted his freshman season, and caught 57 passes for 769 yards, setting a school record for freshman in passes caught and yards gained. Charles earned first team freshman All-American honors in that season. By season's end, Gordon was one of the teams starting corner backs, in addition to playing wide receiver and punt returner. Gordon averaged 13.1 yards per punt return, which is the highest total by any player since 1949. Charles also set school freshman records with 9 catches in games at Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.

The following season, Charles Gordon was moved to full-time defense, where he lead the nation with 7 interceptions, which is the most by any Jayhawk since 1951. He earned First Team All-Big 12, and Third Team All-American honors. For his efforts, Charles was awarded the Don Frambaugh Award, which is given annually to the teams least selfish player for the 2003 season.

In his junior year, Gordon started in all 12 games. He was First Team All Big 12 for kick returning and punt returning, Second Big 12 team as a defensive back, and and a wide receiver honorable mention. Charles caught 13 passes for 313 yards, rating him the second best receiver on the team that season. Gordon also had 28 tackles with 2 interceptions, and was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. This award is given annually to the nations best defensive back. Gordon also had 41 punt returns for 398 yards, with an average of 9.7 yards per return. Gordon's longest return went for 54 yards. At season's end, Gordon announced he would forgo his senior year, to enter the NFL Draft. Gordon was un-drafted.

Gordon was signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on May 4, 2006. He was eventually moved to the active roster on November 7, 2006. He made his first career tackle, a tackle for a loss, and a pair of special team tackles, in a game versus Green Bay on December 21. Charles made his first career start against the St. Louis Rams on December 31, 2006. In his first start, Charles made 8 tackles, which gave him a team high for one game that season. Gordon became the fourth Vikings rookie defender to start in 2006, joining the group of CB Cedric Griffin, S Gregg Blue, and DE Ray Edwards.

The Vikings also used Charles to return punts. Gordon made his first NFL punt return against the New York Jets on December 17, 2006, and he got his first NFL forced fumble on kick off coverage in a game versus Arizona. The forced fumble was recovered by a 2005 draftee, Heath Farwell. I recently did a profile on Heath last week. For more information on this player, please refer to that article.

So far in 2007, Charles Gordon has played in all four games for the Minnesota Vikings. Gordon has made two tackles, and both have been solo. Head Coach Brad Childress has not used Charles Gordon as a punt returner this season, although Gordon has only one punt return in his career, and one fumble which he recovered. In his NFL career on defense, Charles has played in 15 games, and made one start. He has 16 tackles, of which 15 were solo, and one assisted, and one forced fumble. Gordon is still looking for his first career sack.

Charles Gordon is still pretty raw. Though he has done well in his college career, and appears to be capable to play professional ball, Gordon will succeed with more playing time, and experience through games and practice. The Vikings may even benefit from using him as a punt returned rather than Adrian Peterson. When Charles Gordon left college, he was the leading punt returner in school history with 999 yards, on 96 returns.

Some noteworthy accomplishments for Charles Gordon outside of of football was: he majored in business, and was selected to the All-Big 12 Academic Team in 2003. He has visited with children and donated game tickets to the Salvation Army. Charles was also the lone un-drafted rookie to make a start in 2006. The other rookies, Cedric Griffin, Greg Blue, and Ray Edwards, were all drafted. Let's give this guy a real chance, and see what he can do. Vikings fans, look for number 41 on special teams, at corner back, and, maybe even punt returns.

LETS SKOL GORDON!!!!