He’s by far the most decorated man of the Mark Mangino era, but Kansas University junior Charles Gordon knows preseason accolades are useless unless he can back it up.

And, rest assured, Gordon plans to back it up.

“I never really thought I’d get this kind of recognition,” said Gordon, KU’s preseason All-America cornerback. “I’m thankful, but now I got to go out and show why I deserved these honors. Why I’m worthy.”

An NCAA Division I-A-best seven interceptions in 2004 catapulted Gordon from a little-known talent to the worst-kept secret in Lawrence.

Several of his 2004 picks were jump balls, impressive considering Gordon may not reach 6-foot on his tiptoes. But a few others, all of which came in Big 12 Conference play, were just jaw-dropping.

Take the Colorado game in November, a performance that made the Carson, Calif., native a legitimate stud. During one play, Gordon and two defensive backs played deep-zone coverage (Cover 3), and after CU quarterback Joel Klatt handed the ball off, former KU safety Rodney Harris bit and went to the football. It was a flea-flicker, though, and when Klatt got the ball back, a receiver deep down the middle of the field was wide-open.

Or was he?

Gordon, seeing Klatt light up over the open target, got a dynamite jump on the pass, closed in while the ball was mid-flight and made a dazzling interception in an area of the field he had no business defending.

“I read his eyes,” Gordon said. “He thought for sure he had it.”

Gordon that game with gaudy statistics: two interceptions, a fumble recovery, a sack, a 22-yard catch and a 22-yard punt-return.

Kansas University walk-on Sam Archer, left, checks into Naismith Hall as KU football assistant coach Clint Bowen helps. Archer, from McPherson, moved into his new home Wednesday.

His defensive prowess and instincts weren’t perfect last year. Even as late as the season finale against Missouri, Gordon admitted at times he found himself in la-la land.

But heading into preseason workouts, which begin today, he’s 100-percent healthy, full of energy and another year wiser.

“I’m more experienced now,” Gordon said. “I know what to expect, and I know where I’m supposed to be.”

Mangino and his staff analyzed at what position Gordon would be most beneficial, and they came up basically with the same answer as a year ago – a full-time cornerback, full-time punt returner, and part-time wide receiver.

And the job description is subject to change whenever (and wherever) Gordon’s needed. That much was proven last season against Iowa State, when a punchless KU offense had Gordon lining up out wide most every play in the second half. Ronnie and Donnie Amadi played cornerback in his place.

“As we go with the flow of the game, we will have him for maybe as few as 10, maybe as many as 20, 25 plays on offense,” Mangino said. “But we would rest him on defense because we don’t want to put Charles in harm’s way. We can’t have him fatigued and injured.”

If Gordon stays healthy, he has a lot of honors to live up to – preseason All-America by several publications, preseason All-Big 12 by nearly every publication, and a member of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, an award given to the best defensive player in America.

There’s also the thought of leading a strong KU defense, helping a rebuilding KU offense and wondering if all this hard work will pay off with an eventual NFL invitation.

Not that Gordon is thinking about all that – not too much, anyway.

“It’s a little pressure,” Gordon said, “but I’m not really concerned with that right now. I’m going to go out there and have fun and just go play football.”