Hall of Fame Profile: Rare two-sport All-American Arel Gordon sprinted his way into the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame – University of Maine Athletics

ORONO, Maine — When Arel Gordon arrived on campus in August 2003, nobody could have imagined that he would depart the University of Maine as a two-sport All-American.
 
However, with blazing speed, versatility and determination, the 5-foot-8 Gordon sparkled on the football field and on the track, paving his way to the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.
 
Gordon garnered All-Atlantic 10 Conference recognition at three positions and claimed an All-America nod in football, then capped his collegiate career by earning All-America honors on the track as a sprinter.
 
“He was a difference-maker,” said former football head coach Jack Cosgrove. “He made a lot of big plays for us in his time at Maine.”
 
Gordon was an All-A10 pick as a return specialist, a wide receiver and a running back in three separate seasons, gaining an All-America nod as a returner in 2004.
 
He still owns school records for career punt returns for touchdowns (3) and single-season kick return yards (729), and shares marks for longest kickoff return (100 yards) and kickoff returns for a touchdown in a season (2).
 
Gordon chose UMaine over rival New Hampshire as former Aquinas Institute teammate Kevin McMahan was a Black Bear. In 2003, he raced 100 yards for a TD on a kickoff return and ran back a punt 75 yards for a score at Morgan State.
 
“That was a really fun time, especially kick return,” he said of his freshman campaign. “I absolutely loved it, and that definitely started the ball rolling.”
 
Gordon averaged 27.5 yards per kickoff return and 14.9 yards on punt returns on his way to all-league recognition.
 
In 2004, he was recognized as an All-A10 return specialist as he continued to earn more playing time as a wideout. Gordon, who was a running back at Aquinas, then made 70 catches as a junior in 2005. His 17 catches in a 2006 game against UNH are second most in UMaine history.
 
“Transitioning to receiver took some time, some practice and effort, some dedicated focus on getting better hands and catching ability,” Gordon said.
 
As a receiver, he appears twice on the school single-season receptions list, ranking fifth with 70 catches and eighth with 63. His 158 career receptions are eighth-best all time for the Black Bears.
 
“He was a key cog for our football team,” Cosgrove said. “He had great speed and was a very coachable kid who wanted to learn and get better.”
 
Gordon never allowed his stature to stunt his production. He never weighed more than 181 pounds, but dedicated himself to weight training.
 
He set a program record by running the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds and also exceled in the weight room. He bench-pressed 330 pounds, hoisted 302 pounds in the hang-clean and squatted 500 pounds.
 
Those numbers, which he credits in part to the guidance of former UMaine strength and conditioning coach Leslie Look, gave Gordon the distinction of being the strongest man, pound for pound, in the athletic department.
 
“I wasn’t going to let size and stature be a limiting aspect,” he said of his efforts, which meant he was fast — and difficult to bring down.
 
Gordon’s speed, toughness and sure hands made him the featured back as the Black Bears transitioned out of their traditional, run-based offense. As a senior, he rushed for a team-best 843 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and led UMaine with 63 receptions for 535 yards.
 
“We opened up the offense, spread it out a little bit more and threw the ball around a little bit,” Cosgrove said of the new scheme that featured Gordon’s talents.
 
When football was over, Gordon approached track coach Mark Lech about joining the squad as a sprinter. Lech was receptive, especially given Gordon’s impressive high school times.
 
“In my first meet, I set the [school] record [6.19 seconds],” Gordon said of the 55 meters.
 
He went on to establish new UMaine standards in the 60 meters (6.643) and the 200 (21.29). All three records still stand.
 
Gordon continued football training in preparation for UMaine’s pro day, but he also improved his running. He set an America East championship record of 6.25 seconds in the 55 meters.
 
“That camaraderie that we built in that period of time was amazing. I was very thankful for that team,” Gordon said.
 
Gordon earned the right to compete in the 60 meters at the 2007 NCAA indoor championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was dealing with a nagging hamstring injury.
 
Undaunted, he set a school record (6.71 seconds) and finished seventh in the country to earn All-America status.
 
“To get those accolades at the end of the year, and travel to the stadiums and the arenas that I got to run in, and be on ESPN and everything, that was definitely a great culmination of the end of my college athletic career,” Gordon said.

The 2024 UMaine Sports Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted at a banquet held at Jeff’s Catering on Friday, Oct. 4. For more details on this year’s induction class, please click here.