Two years ago at this time, Gordon was getting ready for his senior season at NDSU. A Harlon Hill candidate the previous year, he looked physically imposing at his college playing weight of about 213 pounds.
On Wednesday, he had the look of a linebacker walking from his white SUV to a throng of television cameras waiting for him.
It is time to get started, he said, in answering a question. I knew camp was coming; you can not run from it. It is time to go to work.
Gordon is listed at 228 pounds on the Rams pre-season roster. That is too much, he said, joking that it is probably listed there for intimidation reasons.
I am 222 right now and by tomorrow I will be much less, he said.
Gordon has matured. Physically with his frame and mentally with his ease of dealing with the media. He lives in his hometown of Milwaukee in the off-season.
This summer, he trained with former Bison defensive back Mike Rhone and two current NDSU players: safety Mike Sheppard and wide receiver Marques Johnson. All are from the Milwaukee area.
We worked out pretty hard, he said.
The results led to a scale test between Gordon and Sheppard: who weighed more? Gordon was surprised by the results. Sheppard weighed 200.
He looks much bigger, Gordon said. He has bigger arms but I am 20 pounds more. I do not see it.