Butler grad's son is best lineman in Ala.
LOCUSTFORK, Ala. — A three-sport athlete at Butler, Steve Jordan never developed into a collegiate player.
The same won't be said of his son.
James Jordan, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end for J.B. Pennington High School, located near Birmingham, Ala., has been named the state's Class 2ALineman of the Year.
J.B. Pennington reached the Alabama semifinals in Class 2Afootball, which is similar to Class AAA in Pennsylvania, and is being recruited by numerous Division I programs, including Memphis, Arkansas, Mississippi and Mississippi State.
"I played basketball, baseball and soccer at Butler,"said the elder Jordan, a 1991 Golden Tornado graduate. "But my sports career was very ordinary.
"I never dreamed James would develop into the kind of football player he has."
James Jordan is a four-year starter in football and basketball at J.B. Pennington. He played baseball for a year and qualified for the Alabama state track meet in the shot put, 300-meter hurdles and with the 400-meter relay.
Jordan can bench-press 325 pounds and he runs a sub-4.76 in the 40-yard dash.
Steve Jordan met his wife April in Alabama. He moved there immediately after attaining a two-year degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993.
James Jordan has been playing football since seventh grade. He owns school records in career tackles with 490, sacks with 68 and tackles for loss with 160.
He tallied 119 tackles, 11 sacks, 35 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and a blocked punt this season.
"He's been as good in the school room as he's been on the football field," Steve Jordan said. "Since he won that (Lineman of the Year)award, a lot more doors have opened up for him in terms of college choices."
The younger Jordan carries a 3.9 grade-point average, ranking second in his class, while taking college-level courses. He wants to major in foreign investment banking in college.
The Jordans no longer have family in the Butler area. Steve Jordan's father moved to Alabama a few years ago. Jordan has an aunt and uncle in Oil City while his sister's family lives in Allentown, Pa.
