Tennessee running back Javin Gordon is back on the field sooner than expected. He credits his faith, patience, and trust in the Vols’ training staff for helping him recover from an injury suffered in Week 2 against Georgia Tech.
After missing four games, Gordon saw limited action against Alabama before taking on a larger role in Tennessee’s 27-24 loss to South Carolina. He rushed for 41 yards on six carries, providing another option in a backfield led by DeSean Bishop.
“It felt great to be back out there,” Gordon said. “Being able to contribute to my team and being able to get some carries and being able to help my team in every way possible, it just felt great. Being able to trust my trainers and getting back out there faster than I was expecting, it just was God-given.”
Gordon said even his doctors were surprised by the speed of his recovery.
“I guess the doctor told me, like, my injury, it’s kind of rare for people to come back as early as I did, and how I healed was crazy,” Gordon said. “So, I mean, like I said, all glory to God. Without him, I wouldn’t even be here right now.”
The setback also taught Gordon valuable lessons about perseverance during his first season at Tennessee after transferring from Tulane.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Gordon said. “Patience is a part of life, and just being able to keep your head up and persevere through everything and keep pushing, and on the other end, everything is going to work out.”
Learning from DeSean Bishop
While working his way back, Gordon continued learning from Bishop, whose production has made him the centerpiece of Tennessee’s rushing attack.
“It’s incredible,” Gordon said. “Just being able to have a role model and a vet like him in a room to be able to watch every day and just learn from, me being a young guy, just being able to learn from him.”
Gordon said Bishop’s journey from walk-on to one of the nation’s leading rushers has established a standard throughout the position group.
“He definitely sets a standard for sure,” Gordon said. “The goal is obviously the national championship, but here in the SEC, one game at a time, every game is its own season.”
The two have also developed a connection through their shared faith, something Gordon said has been important throughout his recovery.
“Faith is a big topic between me and DeSean,” Gordon said. “God’s always first. And I just feel like being able to have a guy in a room like that to be able to talk about our faith and give credit to our faith and everything, it’s just a good thing to have.”
Providing depth for Tennessee’s final stretch
With four regular-season games remaining, Gordon believes Tennessee’s running back depth can help alleviate some of Bishop’s workload.
He also praised fellow running back Daunne Morris, pointing to the physicality he brings despite his smaller frame.
“He’s a scatback, but people always mistake him just because he looks small. He has power behind him, too,” Gordon said.
As Tennessee enters its bye week, Gordon believes the next step for the running back room is continuing to improve its execution and attention to detail.
“Just each and every day, just come in and dial in and buy into the details, the little details, the small details,” Gordon said. “It’s going to get us down the stretch here in the back end of the season and get us to where we want to go. The ultimate goal.”
