PLAYERS
ERIC GORDON 24
DEFENSIVE BACK R-JUNIOR • 2L • 5-9 • 190 NASHVILLE, TENN. • HILLSBORO H.S. 2011 - R-SOPHOMORE
HIGH SCHOOL
2010 - R-FRESHMAN
PERSONAL
• Games/Starts: 10/1 • Played in 10 games in 2011 with one start, made 16 tackles • Ranked tied for fifth on the team with 5.0 TFLs • Had two interceptions, including game-winning interception vs. Vanderbilt (11/19) in overtime • Named National Defensive Back of the Week by College Football Performance Awards after game-winning overtime 90-yard interception return for touchdown vs. Vanderbilt (11/19) • Picked off Jordan Rodgers in overtime and returned the ball 90 yards for game-winning score as Vols beat VU, 27-21. Interception return ties for fifth-longest return in UT history • Interception for TD in overtime was first game-winning defensive score to win a game in the NCAA since 2005 • Drew first-start of 2011 at #8 Arkansas (11/12) in a nickel and made a tackle • Matched season-best with four tackles, including pair of TFLs, vs. MTSU (11/5) along with third-career interception • Racked up three early tackles vs. Georgia (10/8), two TFLs • Tied for team-best four solo tackles in Montana (9/3) game • Games/Starts: 13/6 • One of eight freshmen to play in every game for UT • Led UT freshmen with 49 tackles and ranked seventh on the team overall • Finished sixth on the team with seven special teams tackles • One of four Vols with multiple interceptions (two) • First career start came in season opener vs. UT Martin • Recorded first career tackle and was part of a secondary that held the Skyhawks to a UT opponent season-low 86 passing yards • Contributed a career-best six tackles at South Carolina in just his third career start • Matched his career high with six more stops the next week at Memphis while adding his first career INT on the Tigers’ third possession • Before leaving with a head injury vs. Mississippi, notched his second INT of 2010 and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown to give UT a 21-0 lead while also adding a pair of tackles • Totaled five tackles vs. Florida, including his first career tackle for loss • Provided four takedowns against UAB, LSU and UNC (Music City Bowl) • Added first career pass breakup at UAB • Handled punt return duties for five games • Registered UT’s season-high punt return of 21 yards against LSU • Tallied five tackles vs. Alabama and notched three stops on three separate occasions • Shared Tennessee’s 2010 Big Lick Award in the spring, presented to players who consistently perform with the most physical toughness
2009 - FRESHMAN • Redshirted 72
TENNESSEE FOOTBALL // 2012 RECORD BOOK
• Earned No. 2 spot in Rivals.com Tennessee Preseason Top 25 • Named SuperPrep All-American and member of Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super Southern 100 • Three-time All-Metro, All Region 5-4A and All-State • Named to The Tennessean’s Dream Team as both junior and senior, and included as one of Knoxville News-Sentinel’s Top 20 Prospects in Tennessee following 2008 season • Finalist for Tennessee’s Mr. Football Award as senior • 2008 All-Midstate • Offensive MVP at BlueCross Bowl after leading Hillsboro to Class 4A state championship in 2008 • Selected to play in Toyota East-West All-Star Game for Tennessee • Rushed for 510 yards and nine touchdowns while catching 43 passes for 716 yards and nine touchdowns as senior • Also posted 34 tackles and five interceptions • Led star-studded secondary as junior, with 77 tackles and six interceptions (one returned for a TD) • At receiver, had 41 catches that year for 816 yards and 10 TDs • Coach at Hillsboro High School - Scott Blade • Full name: Eric T. Gordon • Born: April 24, 1991 • Son of Jovonda Gordon • Majoring in Arts & Sciences
CAREER STATISTICS DefenseGP/GS 2010 13/6 2011 10/1 Totals 23/7
UT AT TT Sack TFL FF 32 15 47 0-0 1.5-3 0 15 1 16 0-0 5-10 0 47 16 63 0-0 6.5-13 0
FR PD Int High Tk 0 3 2-46 6-2x 0 3 2-107 4-2x 0 6 4-153 6-2x
CAREER HIGHS Tackles 6 at South Carolina, 10/30/10 & vs. Memphis, 11/6/10 Tackles For Loss 2 vs. Georgia, 10/8/11 & Middle Tennessee, 11/5/11 Interceptions 1 four times, last vs. Vanderbilt, 11/19/11 Interception Yards 90 vs. Vanderbilt, 11/19/11 Touchdowns 1 vs. Vanderbilt, 11/19/11
CAREER GAME-BY-GAME 2010 Opp. UT-Martin Oregon Florida UAB at LSU at Georgia Alabama at S. Carolina at Memphis Mississippi at Vanderbilt Kentucky UNC (Bowl)
U-A-T, Other 2011 Opp. U-A-T, Other 1-0-1 Montana 4-0-4, 1-2, tfl 1-0-1 Cincinnati 1-0-1 4-1-5, 1-3 tfl at Florida 1-0-1 1-3-4, pd Buffalo 0-0-0 1-3-4, 0.5-0 tfl Georgia 3-0-3, 2-4 tfl 2-1-3 LSU 1-0-1 4-1-5 at Alabama DNP 6-0-6 South Carolina 0-0-0 qh 6-0-6, 1-0 int, pd MTSU 3-1-4, 2.0-4 tfl, 1-17 int 6-0-6, 1-46 int, pd at Arkansas 1-0-1 3-0-3 Vanderbilt 1-0-1, 1-90 int-td, pd 2-1-3 at Kentucky DNP 1-3-4