Husky Roster Review: In Secondary, Fill 'Er Up With Diesel

On a roster filled with University of Washington football players answering to unique first names — Ulumoo, Rome and Edefuan, for example — Diesel Gordon fits right in.

No, it's not a nickname. Hardly a snappy catchphrase. His father doesn't own a fuel company or a service station either.

His mom is fully responsible.

"My mother's maiden name is actually Diesel so that's how it got to me," the freshman safety from Arlington, Texas, revealed.

All gas, no brakes.

Gordon is a name, image and likeness agreement waiting to happen, and the Huskies appear eager to become a Diesel-powered operation in the coming seasons.

After enrolling early at the UW, he completed 15 spring football practices and points to his Husky defensive coaches, strength coaches and even a nutritionalist for getting him ready for the college games. He's even improved his grades since leaving high school.

"I'm a better player looking to get on the field as fast as possible," he said.

Going down the roster from No. 0 to 99, Gordon, who wears No. 26 all to himself, is next up in a series of profiles about each of the Huskies' scholarship players and assorted walk-ons, summing up their spring football performances and surmising what might come next for them.

Diesel Gordon is one of six Texans on the roster and he wears a number he initially shared with Jay'Veon Sunday, another Texas player who has left the program.

Freshman Diesel Gordon prepares to slam into a blocking dummy during a drill in Husky spring training.

Diesel Gordon and Tristan Dunn collide in spring ball with a blocking dummy between them.

Diesel Gordon puts fellow defensive back Thaddeus Dixon through stretching exercises in Dempsey Indoor.

Diesel Gordon hails from Arlington, Texas, and took a recruiting trip to SMU, as shown here in this publicity shot.

Gordon may have his mom's name, but he's a football coach's kid through and through.

The 6-foot, 176-pound defender comes to the Huskies from Seguin High, a 6A Texas football program coached by his father, Joe Gordon, and that goes by the nickname of Cougars, of all titles.

Joe Gordon was a superlative defensive back himself, emerging as a first-team All-Big 12 cornerback as a sophomore for Kansas State in 1994 and spending brief stints in the NFL and NFL Europe. He's been a junior-college, small-college and high-school coach, plus he spent time at Kansas State as its Courtney Morgan, as the director of recruiting.

Diesel Gordon, one of a half-dozen Texans on the roster, surprised himself by ending up at the UW, so far from home.

"I grew up watching Big 12 and SEC football," he said. "I'd never really seen even a Pac-12 game to be honest. ... It was shocking but after I came out here, and seen what was out here and got the good vibes I got, I just knew it was the right place."

It might take him a year or so to earn a prominent Husky role, but when that times comes this player named Diesel should be operating with a full tank.

DIESEL GORDON FILE

Service: Gordon arrived at the UW after being named first-team all-district in the Dallas suburbs. He has those family genes. In particular, the UW staff likes him because he's a coach's son.

Stats: His defensive stats weren't available, but Gordon rushed, caught and even threw the ball at Seguin High, tossing a touchdown pass.

Role: Gordon will need to be patient with the Huskies relying on seniors Asa Turner and Dominique Hampton as the starting safeties for the coming season. He'll be among the replacements in waiting.

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