[FONT=Arial][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Joker Philips continues to utilize his recruiting contacts in the Peach State. And the Kentucky football program continues to benefit from those good relationships, as one of the top tight end targets in Georgia will visit UK’s Lexington campus this weekend to camp with Philips and his assistants. And from some of his comments, he may give the Kentucky coaches more than a good performance[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]
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[COLOR=#000000]Carrollton (GA) tight end Zach Gordon had one of those fairy tale types of seasons in 2010. Well, almost. “We went 14-1, and we made it all the way to the state championship game,” Gordon explained. “But we lost 14-7. It was definitely a year to remember. We fumbled at about the 1-yard line, driving in to tie the game late. That basically sealed our fate. It was a tough way to lose in that spot.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]Has he gotten over the heart wrenching loss? “The cool thing is, I just came back from an offensive lineman camp, and the offensive line from the team that beat us was there. I hung out with all those guys, and it was kind of nice to put that game behind us. I have been able to get over it, but it adds fuel to the fire for the upcoming season. It gives us incentive.” [/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]Over the season, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Gordon only tallied seven catches for about 200 yards. But he showed enough to net over 15 scholarships this offseason. “I know people think I’m more of a blocking tight end, coming from the wing-t offense, and not having a lot of catches. But last year, I think I was able to show, even just with seven catches, that I’m more than that. Yes, blocking is second nature to me, coming from the offense I’m coming from.”[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]Others offers have come from the likes of Virginia, Louisville, Purdue, Cincinnati, Stanford, Boston College, and Wake Forest.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]Gordon also played a little defensive end last season, primarily in a backup role. This season, he will be utilized on both sides of the ball in an “ironman” type of role. He won’t leave the field very often.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]Kentucky entered the picture in the 2010 campaign. “(UK assistant) Coach Tee Martin came by our school this past fall. He was taking a look at our running back. But he came back around December, and he was primarily here to talk to me. The contact picked then, as e-mails were traded and we got hooked up with Facebook. I had no idea that they had offered me, and found out from a reporter. A couple days later, Coach Martin called and said that it was true, that they [/COLOR][COLOR=#000000][I]were[/I][/COLOR][COLOR=#000000] offering.”[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]The offer has stood, and now Gordon will check out UK’s facilities this weekend. “I am heading up to Kentucky for camp Friday and I’m pretty excited about that. A really good family friend of ours seems to know everybody that has ever been associated with Kentucky football. He has been giving the inside on what to see.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]“But, seriously, when my parents and I sat down to decide what camps to go to this summer, Kentucky is one of those places that has always interested me, football or just school-wise. I knew it was a camp I had to attend. So I am heading up there for a camp and a visit, and I’m excited about seeing what they have to offer. A couple of friends went up there for Junior Day, which I couldn’t get to., and they had nothing but good things to say about it. I feel like I have a good relationship with Coach Martin, so I felt that maybe that’s how I would get along with the rest of the coaching staff. They’re just real easy going. And I always felt I wanted to see more of Kentucky, a great state, and the atmosphere up there.”[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]Could a commitment come this weekend? “You know…,” Gordon hesitated. “I don’t know. I would like to wait until I get all my visits out of the way this summer. I wouldn’t want to pull the trigger too soon. I haven’t visited all the school I wanted to yet. I was thinking that I would get that done this summer. But I’m not sure. We’ll just have to see how everything goes this weekend. I know I’m looking forward to getting up there, and who knows?”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
