Zaviar Gooden

TRANSACTION HISTORY:

• Selected by the Titans in the third round (97th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.

PRO CAREER:

TENNESSEE (2013-present):

• In 2013, he posted seven tackles on defense and seven stops on special teams in his first NFL campaign.

COLLEGE:

• Played in 49 games at Missouri, including 36 starts at weakside outside linebacker. Recorded 256 tackles with four sacks, 20.5 stops for losses, 11 passes defensed, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.

2012 SEASON:

• Gooden served as a team captain in his final season. Started 10 games at outside linebacker and finished seventh on the team with 61 tackles (36 solos). He added four tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and an interception for a touchdown.
• Against Southeastern Louisiana (9/1), returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown.
• At Tennessee (11/10), led the defense with nine tackles in a 51-48 overtime win.
• Against Syracuse (11/17), posted a career-high 15 tackles (10 solos), including a tackle for loss.

2011 SEASON:

• Gooden started all 13 games, ranking third on the squad with 80 tackles (54 solos), adding a three-yard sack and six stops for losses of 23 yards. Batted away four passes and intercepted two others.
• At Arizona State (9/9), named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week after leading all Tigers with nine tackles, adding a sack and blocking an extra point.
• Against Kansas (11/26), tied for the team lead with seven tackles and also had an interception, picking off a pass batted at the line of scrimmage.
• Against North Carolina (12/26), closed out the season with a six-tackle outing in the Independence Bowl. Totals also included 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception.

2010 SEASON:

• Gooden led the team with 85 tackles (50 solos) in his first year as a starter.
• Delivered three sacks and 7.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
• Also caused a fumble and recovered two others. Gained 10 yards on two interceptions and deflected five additional passes.
• Named All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention by the league’s coaches after the season.
• Against Illinois (9/4), tied for second on the team with eight tackles in his first career start.
• Against Oklahoma (10/23), recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter, helping put away the Sooners. Also made five tackles against the Sooners.
• Against Nebraska (10/30), recorded a career-high two sacks.
• At Texas Tech (11/6), picked off a pass that he returned 10 yards.

2009 SEASON:

• As a redshirt freshman, Gooden received first-team Academic All-Big 12 Conference honors.
• Appeared in all 13 games as a reserve, finishing with 30 tackles (27 solos), including three tackles for loss.
• Recovered and caused a fumble and also deflected a pass.
• Redshirted as a safety in 2008.
• Graduated in December 2012 with a degree in business management.

PERSONAL:

• Attended Pflugerville (Texas) High School, where as a senior he rushed for 1,128 yards and nine touchdowns, intercepted a pair of passes, and had a fumble recovery while guiding the team to a 12-4 record and a second-place finish in the Class 5A ranks. Selected the district’s 2007 All-Purpose Player of the Year.
• Rivals.com rated him the 32nd-best safety in the nation and regarded him as the 56th-best player in the state of Texas.
• As a high school junior, started on both sides of the ball.
• The All-District first-team safety posted 61 tackles with two interceptions.
• Also named second-team All-District as a running back with 800 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
• Earned a starting job on defense as a sophomore, responding with 50 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
• Also spent four years on the track team in high school, competing in the 200-meter and 4×400 relay.
• Enjoys bow bunting and playing dominoes.
• Aspires to do mission work in Senegal.
• List of favorites: (movie) “Remember the Titans”; (TV show) “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”; (actor) Martin Lawrence; (music artists) The Temptations; (school subject) math; (car) Bugatti ; (books) “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu and the Bible; (video game) NCAA Football; (food) soul food; and (athlete as a child) Barry Sanders.
• Born Zaviar Raynal Gooden on Aug. 31,1990 in Austin, Texas.