George Shaw. Ahmad Rashad. Gary Zimmerman. Akili Smith. Joey Harrington. Dion Jordan.
This select group represents the only six Oregon gridiron stars to be selected in the top five of the NFL draft. Jordan joined the elite fraternity this April, beginning another chapter in his storybook of a football career. Drafted by the Miami Dolphins, the defensive end has overcome a position change, a severe injury and an accident that almost cost him his life.
He has instantly flourished. After performing as Oregon’s top reserve lineman in 2010, Jordan became a full-time starter his junior season and has never looked back. An impressive career at Oregon coupled with a brilliant NFL combine led to his high selection.
“Of course that was a very special day for myself and my family and everybody else,” Jordan said. “I was happy when everything was all settled because that’s kind of a drawn-out process. You hear a lot of things throughout the process. But there’s nothing like it — when you hear your name called and walk onto the stage and shake the commissioner’s hand.”
Being a member of the Dolphins reunited Jordan with former Oregon teammate Josh Kaddu, who is now in his second year with Miami. Jordan said Kaddu helped him get acclimated to the NFL.
“Oh man, that’s my guy,” Jordan said of Kaddu. “I was able to come in and not be here by myself, have somebody who understood what it takes and what the ropes were and how things work in this organization. Just being able to reunite with one of my best friends and teammates at Oregon, I never thought it would happen. Things work in mysterious ways. I’m happy that I’m out here with him.”
Being part of a storied NFL franchise is different than playing for a collegiate program — Jordan says the main difference is the hype and responsibilities that come with professional football.
“It’s our job now,” Jordan said. “More responsibilities put on your head, everybody’s watching you what you do. At Oregon there’s no other teams or no pro team or anything really around us out there so we had a lot of eyes on us in Eugene also. But everything is kinda just amped up a little bit and it’s exciting.”
In high school, Jordan suffered from second and third degree burns in a freak accident that nearly took his life.
“It’s a tremendous blessing just to be able to continue doing what I love,” Jordan said. “I took (my life) serious. Everyday I stepped out on the field or whatever I was doing, I knew that as long as I put forth the effort everything else would take care of itself, and it kind of did. I just kept that mindset and didn’t take anything for granted.”
Jordan also played through a torn labrum, which later required surgery, for much of his senior season. So far it hasn’t created much of a setback early on in his pro career. His playing time has been limited, but he was able to record his first career sack against Cleveland in his first regular season game.
“I kind of took time out to myself to go out there pregame and just take my time and just look around the stadium,” Jordan said of his professional debut. “The atmosphere was loud, especially out there in Cleveland. I just took time to soak everything in.”
Despite his busy life in the NFL, Jordan says he still watches his alma mater take the field and wants to attend a game this season in Eugene.
“They put on a show,” Jordan said, laughing, referring to Oregon’s game against Tennessee. “That’s one of my goals, to get up there and see my guys in action. I’m going to make sure I put that effort in to try and get up there.”