Redshirt freshman Powell Gordon returns to Auburn football

AUBURN — Auburn football redshirt freshman linebacker Powell Gordon has returned to the team after entering his name into the NCAA transfer portal in April, sources confirm to Auburn Live.

Gordon’s name recently showed back on the team’s official roster after entering his name into the portal following spring practice.

The Auburn, Ala. product decided to weigh his options and enter his name into the portal after last season as the Tigers searched for impact players at the linebacker and jack positions. In the end, Gordon decided to return to the Auburn roster and will play his redshirt freshman season on the Plains under new defensive coordinator Ron Roberts and linebackers coach Josh Aldridge.

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“Powell, same thing, he’s athletic, probably looks his best when he’s on the edge I think he’s more comfortable because it’s where he was at in high school,” Roberts said during the spring. “He’s a young guy, probably behind a veteran group of linebackers. That room is a little older.”

When asked if Gordon was destined for the jack position or at the minimum, playing time on the edge, Roberts said, “We did have a discussion, yes.”

Gordon redshirted during his first season at Auburn in 2022. He was slated to play either linebacker or the jack position exiting this spring. Gordon told Auburn Live he’s leaving the option of returning to the Tigers’ roster.

Gordon attended Auburn High School. He was ranked the No. 79 linebacker and a three-star prospect in the On3 Consensus rankings.

Cam Riley on Gordon

Returning linebacker Cam Riley said this of Gordon and the possibility of him moving around on defense.

“He (Roberts) just told me yesterday,” Riley said on Wednesday. “I would like to actually see him down there though. I feel like he would do a pretty good job at edge. I feel like if he could get a little more weight on him, he would possibly be a great edge for us.

“Powell, he’s grown tremendously. I actually saw a play during the scrimmage last week. I can’t describe it, it was some move he did I had never seen before. Once I saw that, I’ve been trying to tell coach, we need Powell on the edge. He would make every play. After the play I saw him make, I was like yeah, we need him down there.”

Powell Gordon’s history as an edge player

From Auburn Live’s Cole Pinkston:

Gordon impressed as an edge rusher on the high school level. He disrupted plays on a consistent basis when pinning his ears back and getting after the quarterback. Gordon contributed 14 sacks to a State Championship run for Auburn High School as a junior. He had similar numbers as a senior as well.

Auburn Live scouted him in person when Auburn High took on national high school power IMG Academy. On the opening play of the game, Gordon got the better of now Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker, stripped the ball from the quarterback, and gave his team the ball in the red zone.

On the very next play, Gordon lined up at tight end on offense, ran a corner route and made a touchdown grab while falling down.

Now, there are talks to get Gordon back down on the edge where he has made so many plays in his previous football career.

Here’s what we wrote about Gordon when he committed to Auburn on August 7, 2021.

Gordon is a menace as an edge rusher. Playing mostly on the edge he was able to tally 88 total tackles, 14 sacks, and 32 tackles for loss. When he’s not filling up the stat sheet, he is usually causing problems for opposing quarterbacks. He shows excellent bend and good, quick hips when taking on blocks.