The Saints selected California DE Cameron Jordan with the 24th selection in the 2011 NFL Draft Thursday night.
If Jordan's name sounds familiar in National Football League circles, it's because he comes from football bloodlines. His father, Steve Jordan, played 13 seasons as a tight end in the National Football League after graduating from Brown University. He spent his entire professional career with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was a six-time Pro Bowl selection.
With the graduation of All-Pac 10 Conference defensive end Tyson Alualu, the Golden Bears' front wall looked to Jordan to fill the void in 2010. Blessed with untapped potential, the coaching staff hoped new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast could bring out the best in the senior. Based on the excellent season he had, the defensive end emerged as one of the elite pass rushers in the collegiate ranks.
Jordan responded by earning first-team All-Pac-10 Conference honors in his final collegiate season. He was the leader of a defensive unit that led the league and ranked 18th nationally, allowing just 319.08 yards in total offense per game. Their star defensive end ranked seventh in the conference in tackles for loss (1.04 tpg) and 11th in sacks (0.46 spg). He totaled a career-high 12.5 stops for losses of 47 yards, including 5.5 sacks for minus 32 yards.
Over the past four seasons, Jordan has been an imposing figure from the demanding "five technique" defensive end position in the Bears' 3-4 alignment. His non-stop motor and violent usage of hands allow him to work past blocks and create havoc in the backfield. In his career, he's produced 16.5 sacks for minus 89 yards, 34.0 stops for losses totaling 122 yards and 11 quarterback pressures.
Jordan also possesses the natural raw power to shut down the opponent's ground attack. He has the anchor to hold up at the point and the strength to fight off blocks and get to the ball carrier. On 154 plays in which he's made tackles, Jordan limited opposing runners to just 205 yards and an average of 1.33 yards per carry. He allowed just 13 first downs on those carries and produced 32 third-down hits. He also tackled 18 ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain.
As a senior at Chandler High School, Jordan earned All-State honors. That season, he registered 17.5 sacks, 37 quarterback pressures and 85 tackles, breaking the school's career record for sacks in just one season. He was awarded Fiesta Region Defensive Player of Year honors after leading the Wolves to an impressive 11-2 overall record, and was named the top defensive lineman at the Nike Training Camp in Los Angeles. Jordan was a Prep Star All-West Region choice and was selected to the All-Far West team by Super Prep.
He was given a three-star rating by Rivals.com, who listed him as the nation's 37th-best strong-side defensive end and the eighth overall recruit from the state of Arizona. Scout.com also rated him a three-star prospect, as that recruiting service ranked him the nation's 55th-best defensive end.
Jordan enrolled at Cal in 2007 and immediately began contributing. He played in all 13 games as a reserve during as a true freshman and finished with 18 tackles (seven solos). He assisted on two sacks, delivered three quarterback pressures and returned a fumble 13 yards for a score vs. Arizona State.
The following season, the sophomore earned an All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention, as he played in 12 contests with eight starting assignments and registered 47 tackles (26 solos), including four sacks and 11 stops for losses. He added two quarterback pressures, one interception, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He earned the league's Defensive Player of the Week award in his first career start vs. Arizona State, finishing with eight tackles (five solos), two sacks and three stops for losses. Jordan was selected honorable mention All-Pac 10 Conference as a junior in 2009. He started all 13 games at right defensive end and collected a career-high 48 tackles (22 solos), including six sacks and 9.5 stops for losses. He added five quarterback pressures, one pass deflection and a fumble recovery.
Entering his final season, Jordan was named to the Watch List for the Ted Hendricks Award, presented annually to college football's top defensive end. He moved to left defensive end and started all 12 games there. The senior stepped up as a team captain, posting a career-best 62 tackles (33 solos) with 5.5 sacks and 12.5 stops for losses. He added three forced fumbles, four pass deflections and a quarterback pressure. He also returned a fumble recovery 21 yards for a touchdown.
CAREER NOTES
Jordan started 33-of-50 games at California (13 at right defensive end, 20 at left defensive end), recording 175 tackles (88 solos) with 16.5 sacks for minus 89 yards, 34.0 stops for losses totaling 122 yards and 11 quarterback pressures…Returned four fumble recoveries for a combined 41 yards (10.25 avg) and two touchdowns…Added four forced fumbles, as he deflected five passes and intercepted another for a three-yard return…Made 154 stops vs. the ground game, limiting those runners to 205 yards (1.33 ypc) and 13 first downs, as he posted 32 third-down hits and three more on fourth-down…Delivered a total of 39 tackles-for-loss (solos/assists) and stopped ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain 18 times…Made 19 stops vs. the aerial attack, holding receivers to 121 yards (6.37 avg) and six first downs on those receptions, as he registered six third-down stops and another on fourth-down…Posted 22 of his tackles inside the red zone, including nine on goal-line plays…Added one stop on the kickoff coverage unit…Returned two kickoffs for a combined four yards in returns (2.0 avg).
2010 SEASON
All-American second-team choice by The NFL Draft Report…All-Pac-10 Conference first-team selection by the league's coaches…Member of the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List, presented annually to the nation's top defensive end…The defensive captain started all 12 games at left defensive end and ranked fifth on the team with 62 tackles (33 solos), as he ranked second on the team with 5.5 sacks for minus 32 yards and 12.5 stops for losses of 47 yards…Placed seventh in the conference in tackles for loss (1.04 tpg) and 11th in sacks (0.46 spg)…Forced three fumbles and recovered another, returning it 21 yards for a touch-down…Part of a unit that ranked fifth in the league and 35th nationally, allowing 132.08 yards per game on the ground…Key piece in a front wall that led in the Pac-10 in sacks (2.83 spg) and ranked sixth in tackles for loss (6.33 tpg)…Made 55 plays vs. the ground game, holding those ball carriers to 89 yards (1.62 ypc) and three first downs while producing 12 third-down stops…Delivered nine tackles inside the red zone, including three on goal-line plays, as he posted five hits that brought down ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain…Added five stops vs. the aerial attack, holding receivers to 33 yards and three first downs on those receptions (6.6 ypc), as he made two third-down stops…Deflected four passes, including one on third-down, and added one third-down QB pressure.
2009 SEASON
Earned All-Pacific 10 Conference honorable mention from the league's coaches…Was the recipient of the team's Bob Tessier Award as the most improved defensive lineman… Started all year at right defensive end, ranking eighth on the team with 48 tackles (26 solos)…Ranked second on the team with 6.0 sacks for minus 35 yards, the 10th-best total in the conference…Also placed second on the team with 9.5 stops for losses of 41 yards… Credited with five quarterback pressures, including two on third-down attempts, as he recovered one fumble and deflected one pass which also occurred on a third-down…Part of a unit that ranked fourth in the league and 27th nationally, allowing just 117.08 yards per game on the ground…Jordan was a key piece in a front wall that ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in sacks (2.33 spg) and fifth in tackles-for-loss (6.25 tpg)…Made 44 plays vs. the ground game, holding those ball carriers to 43 yards (0.98 ypc) and four first downs while producing six third-down stops and three more on fourth-down…Delivered four tackles inside the red zone, including two on goal-line plays, as he posted five hits that brought down ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain…Added five stops vs. the aerial attack, holding receivers to 18 yards on those receptions (3.6 ypc).
2008 SEASON
All-Pacific 10 Conference honorable mention selection from the league's coaches…Started 8-of-12 contests at right defensive end, missing only the season opener vs. Michigan State due to a suspension, and ranked ninth on the team with 47 tackles (26 solos)…Ranked third on the team and 19th in the conference with 4.0 sacks for minus 17 yards…Also placed second among Golden Bears defenders with 11.0 stops for losses of 29 yards, the 12th-best total in the Pac-10…Posted two quarterback pressures and one interception that he returned three yards, as he forced one fumble and recovered another…Part of unit that ranked third in the league and 25th nationally, allowing just 122.23 yards per game on the ground…Part of a front wall that ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in sacks (2.69 spg) and fifth in tackles-for-loss (7.0 tpg)…Made 41 plays vs. the ground game, holding those ball carriers to 48 yards (1.17 ypc) and five first downs while producing eight third-down stops…Delivered seven tackles inside the red zone, including three on goal-line plays, as he posted six hits that brought down ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain… Added six stops vs. the aerial attack, holding receivers to 48 yards and two first downs on those receptions (8.0 ypc), as he made three third-down stops and another on fourth-down.
2007 SEASON
Played in all 13 games as a reserve and recorded 18 tackles (seven solos) with 1.0 sacks (two assisted) for a loss of five yards…Credited with three quarterback pressures, as he also recovered one fumble, returning it 13 yards for a touchdown…Made 14 plays vs. the ground game, holding those ball carriers to 25 yards (1.78 ypc) and one first down while producing six third-down stops…Delivered two tackles inside the red zone, including one on a goal-line play, as he posted two hits that brought down ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain…Added three stops vs. the aerial attack, holding receivers to 22 yards (7.33 ypc) and one first down, as he made one third-down stop…Added one stop on the kickoff coverage unit…Returned two kickoffs for four yards (2.0 avg).
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.89 in the 40-yard dash…1.72 10-yard dash…2.82 20-yard dash…4.71 20-yard shuttle…7.58 three-cone drill…29-inch vertical jump…9'1" broad jump…Bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times…34 ½-inch arm length…11 1/8-inch hands…82 1/8-inch wingspan.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Chandler High School (Az.), playing football for head coach Jim Ewan…Earned All-State honors his senior year after registering 85 tackles, 17.5 sacks and 37 quarterback hurries while leading the Wolves to an 11-2 record…Named the Fiesta Region Defensive Player of the Year after breaking Chandler's career sacks record in just one season…Was named the top defensive lineman at the Nike Training Camp in Los Angeles…All-West Region choice by Prep Star…Rated the fifth-best recruit in Arizona by Super Prep, as that recruiting service also named him to their All-Far West team...Rated a three-star prospect by Scout.com, who listed him as the 55th-best defensive end prospect in the nation… Also given a three-star rating from Rivals.com, who ranked him as the 37th-best defensive end prospect in the nation and the eighth-best recruit from the state of Arizona…Chose to attend California over scholarship offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Nebraska and Oregon State.
PERSONAL
Legal Studies major…Son of Anita and Steve Jordan…Father played college football at Brown University, then for 13 seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He compiled career totals of 498 receptions for 6,307 receiving yards and 28 touchdown catches, with his best statistical seasons coming back-to-back in 1985 when he caught a career-high 68 passes for 795 yards and in 1986 when he made 58 receptions for a career-high 859 yards as well as a career-best six touchdown catches…Born Cameron Tyler Jordan on 7/10/89…Resides in Chandler, Arizona.
