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Jordan Alan Gross (born July 20, 1980 in Fruitland, Idaho) is an American football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers eighth overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Utah.
[edit] Early years
Gross attended Fruitland High School, where he was a letterman in football, basketball, and track & field. In football, he was a first team All-State selection as both an offensive and defensive lineman as a senior, and helped lead his team to the Conference Championship as a sophomore. In basketball, he won All-Conference honors.
[edit] College career
Gross played college football the University of Utah, in the Mountain West Conference. After redshirting his freshman year, he started three games for the Utes, and played in the Las Vegas Bowl, where the co-MWC champion Utes beat Fresno State 17-16. The following season, he made All-MWC honorable mention after starting all 11 games, switching between offensive tackle and offensive guard. His versatility increased as a junior, as he played left tackle, left guard, and right tackle, and finished the season once again making the All-MWC honorable mention team. His offensive line allowed only five sacks all season, which tied the University of Miami Hurricanes record for fewest allowed in the nation. His streak of honorable mention ended his senior year, as he was promoted to All-MWC first team, as well as making the All-America team. He was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, which is given to the best interior lineman in college football, after not allowing a sack all season at left tackle. Also of note is that during his first two years at Utah, one of his teammates was Steve Smith, who he would later play with in Carolina.
[edit] Awards and honors
[edit] Professional career
Gross was taken in the first round (8th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. He started every game for the Panthers that season at right tackle, and in fact did not miss a single offensive play, a rarity for many veterans, much less rookies. He allowed only three sacks all season, and was an anchor on the offensive line that sent the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII. He made the Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie and Sports Illustrated All-Pro teams that season. Due to retirements and personnel shifts, Gross moved from right tackle to left tackle for the 2004 NFL season; he and center Jeff Mitchell were the only two returning starters on the offensive line that season. The instability on the line was one of many problems for the Panthers, who were plagued with injuries, and they finished the season 7-9. The following year, he moved back to right tackle, and the Panthers' starters remained the same during the entire season. On February 19, 2008, the Panthers named Gross their franchise player and placed the franchise tag on him giving him a one year $7.45 million dollar deal.
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