University of Oregon #96
Position: Defensive End/Outside Linebacker
Height/Weight: 6'6/248 lbs.
Age: 23
Background:
Dion Jordan, a fifth-year senior defensive end for the Oregon Ducks, was born on March 5th, 1990 in Chandler, Arizona. At Chandler High School he was rated as a four star (out of five) prospect at the Tight-End position with honors of being a top ten tight-end in the country, and in the top 85 prospects coming out of the whole state of Arizona. Unfortunately, Jordan's 2008 season in high school was cut short after an almost fatal accident with a fire that caused second and third degree burns all over his body. This happened while helping his friend siphon gas from a car using a vacuum cleaner. After they were finished, he went to turn the vacuum off. The off switch set a spark, which apparently lit extra gas on his body and covered him in flames. At the hospital, they repaired his damaged skin and determined he was okay. But, it was questioned if he would ever be able to play football again. With his toughness, he came back to become one of the most explosive players in this draft class. When first recruited to Oregon, Jordan redshirted his freshman year and trained as wide receiver instead of tight end. Throughout his first two years at Oregon, the coaches pushed him to return to tight end and then convert to defense as a defensive end. This switch proved to be the best decision for Jordan as he thrived there. Recording a phenomenal 2011 season where he led the team in many defensive areas. In 2012, his stats were less impressive but followed up with many awards including nominations for many awards such as the Dick Butkus.
Strengths:
Speed, speed, and more speed. Jordan moves incredibly fast for a man towering at 6'6. The moment the ball is snapped, he comes flying off the edge. His primary move to rush the quarterback is beat the tackle on the outside and get around using his speed. To prove this point, at the NFL combine, his 40-yard dash was recorded at 4.60 seconds. Also, in an ESPN Sport Science segment on Jordan, they found that in just three steps, he was able to accelerate to around 16 miles per hour! Just to put things in perspective, Jordan ran third fastest out of 15 DE's invited to the NFL combine. His 4.60 time was only .03 seconds behind the fastest 40-yard dash of 4.57. This again shows just how freakishly fast a man his size moves. A second strength that Jordan has is his high motor. What this means is his never-ending ferocity throughout the game and his work ethic. He is always going his hardest and never gives the other team a break. Even when the ball isn't run or thrown to his side of the field, he is sprinting to make a play. A good work ethic like his also shows a bit about his character, hunger, and respect for the game he plays.
Weaknesses:
Because of his switching positions from tight end to defensive end, Jordan is inexperienced compared to other d-ends from this year and previous years. This inexperience makes him a project-type player for NFL teams, but his freakish athletic ability and speed make him hard to come by among college players. Although he is projected by many to go within the top ten, NFL franchises could think differently because first round draft picks are usually not project-type players. They are supposed to have an immediate impact on the team. Another weakness of Jordan's is his lack of strength. When watching film, it was evident that Jordan lacked the strength of an NFL defensive end. Often times, opponents would put a tight end to block him and he would get pushed around, overpowered, and redirected up the field away from the quarterback. In the NFL, he could have a hard time being blocked by offensive linemen 50 pounds heavier than him.
Overview:
Dion Jordan is definitely a first round talent based solely upon his amazing athletic ability. Freaks of nature like him are hard to come by and in some years only appear once a draft. His strength could be a bit worrisome, but gaining weight and hitting the weight room can easily fix that. With only two years at defensive end under his belt, it is evident that Jordan can be great. Given the right coaching and some years to develop, his potential is through the roof. With a man like him, sky's the limit.
Possible Draftees:
Team that should be interested in Jordan include the Eagles, Jaguars, and maybe the Browns. All of those teams lacked a special playmaker who could cause turnovers and create morale for the whole team to build on. Jordan is an exciting player to watch and is always around the ball making big plays. Coaches love a guy with a high motor like his who can lead through action and show everyone else to play hard on every down.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/04/first-round-nfl-draft-pick-dion-jordan-set-himself-on-fire-in-high-school/
Games Viewed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMoel8E3HaE
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