Into The Blue

Cameron Jordan was one man in the stands of Arizona Stadium on Nov. 11, 2006, indistinguishable in a crowd of over 55,000 fans.

Just two hours from his home in nearby Chandler, Ariz., Jordan was naturally rooting for Arizona. And when the Wildcats shook up the top-10 polls that day with an upset over then-No. 8 Cal, Jordan celebrated with the rest of the Arizona faithful.

But this wasn’t just a game for Jordan, and the Chandler High senior wasn’t just a fan.

This was a showcase, a live exhibition, a matchup between the two universities that resided at the top of Jordan’s short list of possible colleges. And Jordan was the No. 8 prep recruit in the state of Arizona—a big, physical strongside defensive end who dropped opposing quarterbacks 17.5 times during his senior year, almost doubling his school’s single season sack record.

“I pretty much figured out my top three, and (Arizona and Cal) were both in there,” says Jordan. “So I was like, ‘Let’s see who’s going to win.’”

The little school toppled a national powerhouse, and the local kid in the stands was impressed. Coach Mike Stoops’ Wildcats were a rising football team, capable of running with the best.

When National Signing Day arrived in February of this year, the Arizona native signed with … Cal.

“That was when I was stuck on ‘I’m going to stay home’ and ‘I’m going to be a U of A Wildcat,’” Jordan says of the upset. “And after that game, I was like okay, U of A hits hard. But it was still, ‘I don’t want to be home.’”

No matter how much he leaned toward Arizona before deciding, Jordan never fell for the school.

“Honestly the main reason was I didn’t want to stay home,” says Jordan. “My dad came from Brown so he loved (Cal) for academic purposes, and that’s how I ended up here.”

Steve Jordan, Cameron’s father, was a six-time Pro Bowl selection as a tight end in the NFL. But as a freshman at Chandler, Jordan found out that, unlike his father, he preferred the action on defense.

“I learned that I don’t like being hit much,” says Jordan. “I like dealing hits.”

So Jordan, filling a 6-foot-3 and 250-pound frame by the end of high school, landed at defensive end, where he wrecked opposing offenses for 80 tackles and 37 hurries as a senior.

Ultimately, the prep star decided to leave home, and join a group of talented defensive line recruits eager to play for Cal coach Jeff Tedford.

“I had more of a familiar connection with the (Cal) coaching staff,” says Jordan. “And I prefer coach Tedford over coach Stoops.”

You can see why.

Stoops’ common verbal tirade doesn’t seem like Jordan’s thing. The freshman is soft-spoken, laid back—like Tedford behind the dark sunglasses.

He’s a picture of relaxation, and he has maintained that cool composure throughout his move from high school to the national stage.

“Actually, I’m sort of weird,” says Jordan. “I don’t like thinking about the game until I get there. I got used to playing at Cal, got used to playing out on the Berkeley field, so honestly I don’t get myself nervous. I didn’t get nervous for the first game until I looked up into the stands.”

Jordan calls it weirdness. Others might opt for poise or maturity. Listening to him, it's like he finished his progression into college football a while ago. That transition is a thing of the past—now he’s focused on performing at the collegiate level.

“I’ve been holding my own, I think,” says Jordan. “I haven’t been successful like I’d like to be, but I realize this is my first year.”

Still, Jordan has become one of only two true freshmen to receive substantial playing time on defense, and he recorded the first sack of his college career in Cal’s win over Colorado State.

On third-and-long in the second quarter of that game, with the pocket collapsing around Rams quarterback Caleb Hanie, Jordan shed his offensive tackle and enveloped a shuffling Hanie from the back, powering the quarterback to the turf to force fourth down.

That kind of play has helped Jordan mesh with the tight-knit defensive line as he backs up starter Rulon Davis.

“The other d-linemen really carry me,” says Jordan. “If I’m nodding my head to see where I’m going, they’re always like ‘You got C gap, you got B gap.’ They’re always covering my back.”

Today, the roles might be reversed. As Davis remains questionable with a strained foot, Jordan will probably be called on to cover for his teammate, and fill that gap on the strong side.

And in doing so, Jordan will get a firsthand glimpse at the team that he passed over for Cal.

Fortunately for the Bears, Berkeley is far enough from Chandler High.

Instead of Arizona’s red, white and blue, Jordan dresses for Saturdays in blue and gold. Instead of trying to help the Wildcats to consecutive upsets, Jordan will be doing his part to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

After the novelty of last year’s stunner wore off, something about Arizona’s win didn’t sit well with Jordan. It just took him a while to realize where he really wanted to be.

“It definitely (pushed me toward Arizona) for a good two or three months,” laughs Jordan. “But in the end, here I am.”

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