Rookie linebacker Tavares Gooden is scheduled to undergo a sports hernia surgery and a hip surgery.

"I had two different things going on there," said Gooden, a third-round pick from the University of Miami. "I felt it was time to get it fixed. I’ll be fine for next year. I’ll probably be even faster."

(carrollcountytimes.com)

Tavares Gooden has been placed on season-ending IR by the Ravens, according to the AP. He was taken down by a hip injury. Marshal Yanda landed on the IR as well, and Edgar Jones and receiver Ernie Wheelright were promoted from the practice squad as adjoining moves.

Our View: Gooden provided favorable depth at linebacker for Baltimore, but held no fantasy value with five tackles (three solo).

(rototimes.com)

Mike Duffy, of BaltimoreRavens.com, reports Baltimore Ravens LB Tavares Gooden (leg) missed the team's practice Sunday, Aug. 10.




(kffl.com)

Tavares Gooden, the rookie and third-round pick out of Miami, has drawn a lot of praise, and rightfully so. This morning during a pass rushing drill, he ran over fullback Le'Ron McClain, no easy task, and also trucked running back Allen Patrick. Gooden has good strength, and is able to work low under the running back's pads. He excels through a hit.

(weblogs.baltimoresun.com)

The way we hear it, Ravens rookie LB Tavares Gooden could play a major role on special teams in his first season as he learns the defense. Gooden has exceptional speed for the position, and he could be an asset on kick and punt coverage. In the long term, Gooden will compete for a starting spot at inside linebacker; both of Baltimore's starters (Ray Lewis and Bart Scott) are expected to enter free agency after the season.

(pfw.com)

While the University of Miami football program has fallen on hard times, failing to reach a Bowl game last year for the first time since 1999, it continues to develop top NFL prospects. Since 2001, 25 Miami players have been drafted in the first round and 49 former Hurricanes are currently on NFL rosters.

The Ravens have had success with players from "The U" -- Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have both been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year while Willis McGahee earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in his first year with the team last season. With Lewis, Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs all potentially testing the free agent market after the coming season, the Ravens decided to bring in another former Hurricane, drafting linebacker Tavares Gooden in the third round of this year's draft.

Gooden battled injuries at Miami but showed the capability to play all three linebacker positions, starting at the weak side in 2004 before switching to strong side in 2005 and then to the middle as a senior in 2007. Although Miami had its worst season of the decade in 2007, Gooden had the best year of his career, registering a team-high 100 tackles.

Gooden has also been in constant contact with fellow Miami alums Lewis and Reed and shares a similar hunger to succeed.

"I speak with those guys often because we're like brothers, coming from Miami," Gooden said. "When I talk to those guys, they talk with so much passion that it makes you want to play the game. That's how I was taught to play the game at Miami. That's the whole thing about the Baltimore Ravens, they called my name for a reason. They picked me as their third-round pick so it's basically about going out there and fulfilling their expectations and my expectations for myself."

Throughout the minicamp process, Gooden impressed Ravens coaches with his athleticism and versatility.Gooden knows it's important to absorb as much information as possible to ease his transition to the NFL.

"One of the biggest adjustments is just being attentive and picking things up really fast and I really believe I've learned to do that," he said. "I got a lot of conditioning out of [the mini-camps], learned the plays as far zone coverages and how to play them. Without the veterans, I got a lot of one-on-one time with the coaches and learned a lot more about how to relate to different people in zone coverages."

Gooden was regarded as one of the top athletes at the linebacker position in this year's draft,  and he recognizes that his athleticism will give the Ravens options to get him on the field as a rookie.

"I can run with receivers and things like that," he said. "It helps the team out tremendously, especially during rookie camp because we were short on corners. But I was able to adjust and play a lot of the receivers and tight ends in man to man. I think my man to man coverage is pretty good and I think I'm going to improve in zone coverage."

"I want to contribute as best I can.I feel like I was one of the top defensive players in this year's draft so I'm thinking defensive rookie of the year, that's the goal for me. I just want to get on the field.  [Whether it be] special teams, third downs, however I can get on the field and help this team out and try to accomplish my goals."

(pressboxonline.com)

It took Tavares Gooden five years to find his best position at the University of Miami. It took him only 22 practices this summer to convince the Ravens he has a place in their future.

"If he's willing to work, study and really digest this defense ... I think this is a guy who at some point will be a difference-maker on our defense," said Eric DeCosta, the team's director of college scouting.

Gooden, 23, was a late bloomer at Miami, but he could turn out to be a third-round steal in the 2008 draft. It's not just his explosive burst, his ability to change direction or his aptitude in pass coverage that excites the Ravens.

It's also his passion, intelligence and pedigree that hint of something special.

How special?

At age 10, he found inspiration after the death of his mother, Sheila Gooden, to a heart ailment. He made a promise to her and then transformed himself from reluctant youth league football player to high school star in Miami.

Last season, after four years of trying to play outside linebacker for the Hurricanes, he was finally allowed to play middle linebacker. He led the team in tackles and was named the most valuable player on defense.

This summer, he impressed Ravens coaches with his dedication and ability to learn defenses as a rookie.

"He's very conscientious about knowing where he's supposed to be," linebackers coach Greg Mattison said. "He very seldom makes mental mistakes. He's got a lot of pride. He does not like to have a coach say, 'That's not how we want it.' If you do, he's going to come back the next day to make sure he's got it right."

Gooden might have left the Hurricanes, but he has a lot of "the U" in and around him. Former Hurricanes Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Willis McGahee preceded him into the NFL -- and to Baltimore.

Having already drawn on their experience and expertise, Gooden will draw more. He was scheduled to be Lewis' roommate once veterans checked into the team's Westminster training camp on Wednesday. At Miami, wearing Lewis' No. 52, Gooden was called "Baby Ray."

"I talked to everyone [here] from Miami," Gooden said. "It's a brotherhood."

Before the 2007 season, Gooden's NFL prospects were less than promising. In 14 starts at both outside linebacker positions, he had underachieved. A torn labrum in his shoulder canceled his 2005 season. He made just 41 tackles in 2006.

As a freshman in 2003, he also was part of Miami's infamous "7th floor crew," a group of nine players who recorded a rap song that was, among other things, demeaning to women. The group was castigated for a song, Gooden said, that was never intended to be aired publicly.

"You can't take that back," Gooden said today, looking his interviewer in the eye. "When you're young, you learn from your mistakes. ... I was 17, going on 18, just rapping. I didn't know that thing would blow up and be a big deal. We're perceived differently as athletes, so we have to be role models."

DeCosta said Gooden grew from the experience.

"We spent a lot of time with him in the spring," DeCosta said. "We worked him out, interviewed him at the combine. We think he's a good kid who made a mistake."

Mike Pettine, outside linebackers coach, visited Gooden in Florida before the draft.

"Mike was really impressed with him as a person, his character, as well as his athleticism," Mattison said.

The Ravens' medical team cleared Gooden, 6 feet 1, 235 pounds, as well -- he has had a history of shoulder problems and missed the Senior Bowl with a hip injury -- and DeCosta targeted him as a third-round pick.

The team's first-day maneuvering gave them the eighth pick of the third round, and they took Gooden.

"We had been trying for a couple years to draft some younger inside linebackers," DeCosta said. "Tavares was a player, quite frankly, who was undervalued by a lot of people in the scouting community."

The Ravens have Gooden behind veteran Bart Scott at inside linebacker. Though they expect him to contribute mostly on special teams this season, he could play in the dime (six defensive backs) package. And if either Lewis or Scott leave after 2008 -- both are in contract years -- Gooden would be well-positioned to take over.

"In some ways, he reminds me of Bart," DeCosta said. "He's got that same kind of explosion and burst. He's got all the upside in the world physically. ... We think his ceiling is very high."

(baltimoresun.com)

Ravens signed rookie LB Tavares Gooden, the No. 71 overall pick, to a three-year, $1.76 million contract.
Gooden wasn't a huge playmaker at Miami, but had 100 tackles as a senior middle linebacker and can also play outside. His initial impact will come on special teams. Gooden may replace Ray Lewis or Bart Scott in 2009.

(rotoworld.com)

The band Tavares reached the top of the pop and dance charts in 1975 with a tune entitled "It Only Takes A Minute."

The song equated finding a new girlfriend to finding a new job and the pitfalls that can accompany both tasks. However, Ravens rookie linebacker Tavares Gooden may not need much longer than a figurative minute to become a part of one of the NFL's best linebacking corps.

Gooden, a University of Miami product who was a third-round pick (71st overall) in this year's draft, is a quick, physical presence with great lateral speed and a tenacious tackling style who many believed was too small at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds to be in the NFL. Except for the part about being a third-round pick, does that sound like anyone Ravens fans might already know?

"Me and Ray [Lewis], we're brothers," Gooden said during last week's passing camp, the second of which takes place this week. "Anybody out of the University of Miami [who's] a linebacker, you're a brother. Me and Ray, we actually did some workouts before I came back here. He wanted to drill me on workouts.

"He said he's going to worry about the film part when we get back here, and when I get done in July, I'm going to head back down to Miami and work with him there."

During his time at Miami, Gooden idolized the nine-time Pro Bowl pick and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year so much that he wore the future Hall of Famer's No. 52. For now, he's donning No. 49 as he learns the pro routine.

While many -- including himself -- see Gooden as a successor to Lewis, he didn't exactly take the same path to the game's highest level.

Lewis, who entered the 1996 draft after his junior season, was an anchor in the middle of some of Miami’s most successful teams and earned an All-America berth after playing three and a half years in the middle. At the time of his departure, Lewis stood fifth on the school's all-time tackle list.

Conversely, Gooden began his Hurricanes career as a weakside linebacker in 2004, switched to the strong side (covering the tight end) two years later and finally found a home in the middle during his senior campaign as the program suddenly found itself struggling in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

But Gooden flourished in his new role, registering a career-high 100 tackles (60 solo) with three pass breakups and an interception.

Lewis does see one key similarity between himself and his new protege.

“Aggressiveness, aggressiveness," Lewis said. "He’s aggressive, he just wants to fly around and hit everything. I was telling him the other day, and I said, ‘If nothing else, I just want you to touch the ball every play. That’s what I want you to do. I want you to touch the ball every play.’ Understanding that, once you actually channel what he has inside, he’s going to be a great player. He’s going to be a great player."

For now, Gooden is doing what most rookies simply must do this time of year -- learn the playbook, contribute on special teams and know his place.

“Trying to learn the terminology, that’s the toughest thing," Gooden said. "The defense is [similar] to what I did in high school. I think I know the defense, but if they give you a different call, whether they want you inside or outside leverage, it’s just a whole different call. I think that’s the biggest thing, trying to learn the terminology.”

But considering Gooden's background and the veteran players that now surround him in Baltimore, the Ravens' brass believes that understanding the team's aggressive schemes shouldn't be much of a problem.

"Any time you get a player from the Miami Hurricanes, you know you get someone who loves the game, who runs to the football and knows and understands how to play the game," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "It gives us depth, but it helps us on special teams right away.”

College scouting director Eric DeCosta agrees.

“He’s just a good football player," DeCosta said. "The guy’s explosive. He’s just a good player. When he plays well, people will draw their own conclusions once he gets here. I think he’s coming into a great situation. But he’s just a good football player. He had a great year this year. We think he’s got a lot of potential. 

"He made huge strides from his junior year to his senior year, in terms of improving his play and really taking the next step in becoming an elite college linebacker. We love good, fast, aggressive linebackers in Baltimore. We know when we see one, and Ozzie and I both feel really good about him.”

Gooden feels good about himself as well. But he has to understand that he has to wait his turn.

"He’s over there itching on the sideline [saying], ‘I want to be in, I want to be in,'" Lewis said. "And I say, ‘Your time is coming, your time is coming.’ But all of these young guys are like that. You have to pick and choose what you want to teach them and how fast you want to teach them, and they’ll go from there.”

For Gooden, it might only take a minute.

(pressboxonline.com)

Tavares Gooden may have gone to the same school that Ray Lewis did (University of Miami), played the same middle linebacker position and donned the same immortal No. 52, but his path to the NFL definitely was not the same.

Gooden, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was an elite athlete at St.Thomas Aquinas High School where he excelled at football and track and field. While he was the 2002 state champion in the discus, football was his passion. Gooden was regarded as one of the best football players in Florida and was named a two-time Class 4A All-State selection.

After a distinguished high school career, Gooden moved on to play linebacker at Miami, a school known for breeding many NFL players.

Unlike Lewis who started several games his freshman year, Gooden began his Hurricane career on special teams and had minimal impact. In Gooden’s sophomore year, he cracked the starting lineup and wound up at weakside backer; he finished third on the team in tackles with 83 and also compiled 10 tackles for a loss. His career seemed like it was about to take off , but he was derailed the following year in the season opener against arch-rival Florida St. Gooden suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the first quarter and later underwent surgery to repair the damage. His season was over and he received a medical redshirt.

However, Gooden was undeterred and worked hard in the off-season to regain his starting spot the next fall, but this time, it was at strongside linebacker. Despite thriving in his sophomore season, Gooden struggled in his second attempt at a junior year. His production was nearly cut in half and he ended the year with just 41 tackles.

Gooden bounced back in his senior year and his star high school billing finally came to fruition as he transitioned to the middle linebacker spot at Miami. The Hurricane team had an unsuccessful season, but Gooden was one of the lone bright spots, totaling 100 tackles which led the team and started to make him look more like Lewis.

“He had a great year this year,” said Baltimore Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta. “We think he’s got a lot of potential. He made huge strides from his junior year to his senior year, in terms of improving his play and really taking the next step in becoming an elite college linebacker.”

After finishing his career in college, Gooden demonstrated great physical skills and a strong work ethic at his auditions for NFL scouts. Because of his 6’1 and 235 pound stature, along with great speed and athleticism, the Ravens selected him in the third round of the NFL draft at pick 71. In contrast, Lewis was picked 45 spots earlier in 1996 at pick 26 overall (making him a first round selection).

“The only thing I told him was that he couldn’t have No. 52 when he got here, because it belongs to someone else,” said general manager Ozzie Newsome after the selection of Gooden. “But anytime you get a player from the Miami Hurricanes, you know you get someone who loves the game, who runs to the football, and knows and understands how to play the game.” Gooden knew he would have to change his number, but he was fine with doing so because it was in good hands.

“That’s alright,” said Gooden at this past weekend’s mini camp about changing his number from 52. “A great guy has it. A legendary player. I’m just trying to follow in his footsteps and play just like he did while he was here.”

Emulating Lewis’ career is exactly what Gooden hopes to do, though it will begin differently just like in Miami. Lewis was entrenched as the starting man in the middle of the Ravens defense from day one, but that doesn’t mean that Gooden won’t learn everything he can before he has the chance to fill the shoes of the future hall-of-famer.

“Oh, it’s great,” said Gooden about having Lewis as a mentor. “Small little things that I mess up on, he always tells me,

‘I’m going to teach you that.’ That’s how he is, and I think that’s a great opportunity for me to have – a guy who went to Miami, a guy that I mess up on, he always tell me, ‘I’m going to teach you that.’ That’s how he is, and I think that’s a great opportunity for me to have – a guy who went to Miami, a guy that I followed through my whole career.”

(bal.scout.com)

Ray Lewis is not the superstar he once was, but he remains a very good linebacker and is still a leader on the Ravens' impressive defense. He watches tape extensively and always works very hard on and off the field, which pays big dividends on game day. Many times he will recognize what his opponent is looking to do before the snap, but his body can't always do what his mind wants at this advanced stage of his career. However, he can still relay what he sees to his teammates pre-snap. He remains a bone-crushing striker, who very rarely takes false steps in his pursuit of the ball carrier and is an overall intimidator. Lewis led his team with 121 tackles in 2007 and was invited to the Pro Bowl for an amazing ninth time.

While Lewis is still going strong, his partner in crime Bart Scott took a step backward in 2007. The Ravens' defense sets up in different looks, which tend to confuse the offense. When the Ravens show a 3-4 look, Lewis and Scott both play on the inside, but when they use a more traditional 4-3 scheme, Lewis is the middle linebacker and Scott plays on the weak side. Either way, the ball carrier is often funneled in their direction, which gives Lewis and Scott plenty of opportunities to make big plays. Scott was a terror in 2006, but he simply did not impact games in the same fashion this past season. Look for Lewis and the rest of the defense to help Scott return to his dominating Pro Bowl form.

Lewis is an influential veteran who will provide invaluable insight to rookie LB Tavares Gooden. Gooden has a lot of talent and could potentially play any linebacker spot in a 4-3 scheme or either inside spot in a 3-4 scheme. He went to the University of Miami, like Lewis, so Lewis should take a special interest in Gooden's development. Baltimore has not drafted a linebacker with Gooden's skills since selecting Edgerton Hartwell in the fourth round of the 2001 draft. That is a great tribute to just how reliable Lewis has been over that span. Gooden eventually could replace Lewis and should immediately light a fire under Scott.  

(espn.com)

Spent most of Saturday afternoon at Boggs Field Park in Hollywood. Former UM linebacker Tavares Gooden hosted a free barbecue for the community before he begins his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens. The park is where his football career began, playing for the Northeast Hollywood Eagles.

Gooden leaves Thursday for mini-camp, but wanted to make one last gesture. The event, which attracted about 200 people, was no doubt a celebration for Gooden being drafted, as Ravens jerseys and hats were worn by family members. But the festivities were geared more toward the area's youth. Gooden made a speech and talked about the importance of academics. He's always been a solid student, earning two degrees at UM.

To drive home the point the family even printed up T-shirts that he and UM defensive end Eric Moncur handed out throughout the day. Each read: Education + Sports = Success. Good move by Gooden.

And by the way, when I spoke with Moncur, we briefly discussed all talk of UM's 14-year streak of having a first-rounder could be in jeopardy next season. Moncur, probably one of the favorites to extend, simply said fans and writers should wait before making any predictions: "No one can predict the future," he said. "We'll just see how things happen this season."

(sun-sentinel.com)

For University of Miami linebacker Tavares Gooden, the pick came a day late. Still, the feeling was the same. After not being selected in the first two rounds, he was chosen Sunday by the Baltimore Ravens at No. 71 in the third round. "It's cool," said Gooden, who played at St. Thomas Aquinas. "This is what I expected. I had potential to be taken on the first day, but my range was (No.) 45 to 88. I'm just happy to get picked."
Gooden had a gathering of family and friends on Saturday hoping to be taken in the second round. The party grew quiet when the Ravens were set to pick at No. 55. The family began talking of the possibilities of Gooden being mentored in Baltimore by former UM standout Ray Lewis. But the Ravens selected Rutgers running back Ray Rice, and Gooden fell out of the second round. Baltimore couldn't refuse to pass on him again. "Yesterday was yesterday," Gooden said. "It doesn't matter now. This is a celebration for what's going to happen." The pick also allows Gooden to join former UM players Ed Reed and Willis McGahee. Gooden is coming off a season senior where he improved his draft stock. He led the Hurricanes with a career-high 119 tackles and one interception. He credited his improvement to moving from outside to inside linebacker. "I think that helped me out a lot and I thank (linebackers coach) Michael Barrow for doing it," Gooden said. "I'm just glad I'm able to play at the next level."

When University of Miami linebacker Tavares Gooden got the phone call Sunday telling him he was about to be taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the 71st overall pick, he was asked if he minded giving up his UM jersey number -- 52.

That number belongs to UM great Ray Lewis, a longtime Raven and likely Hall of Famer.

''I understand,'' Gooden, of Fort Lauderdale, said he replied. ``I told them it didn't matter. I just want to come in and play.''

Gooden, who is 6-2, 238 pounds, was the eighth pick in the third round. He was the only pick Sunday for UM, leaving several seniors undrafted. This draft had the fewest UM players selected since 1999, when there also were three taken. Besides Gooden, this year's draft class includes first-rounder Kenny Phillips and second-rounder Calais Campbell.

Two Canes who might sign free agent contracts: quarterback Kyle Wright and offensive lineman Derrick Morse. On Sunday, receiver Darnell Jenkins signed with the Houston Texans, cornerback Glenn Sharpe signed with the Atlanta Falcons and defensive end Vegas Franklin was invited to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie camp.

Gooden played at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and was a fifth-year senior who led UM in tackles last season with 119. He had one interception, four pass breakups and three fumble recoveries for his best season.

''I was just happy that I was picked,'' he said by phone from his home.

Gooden's agent, Tony Fleming, said they had targeted two or three teams that were a perfect fit for him ``and Baltimore was definitely one of them. It's a good system to go in and learn behind some great linebackers that are there already.''

Gooden will join former Canes Willis McGahee, Ed Reed and Lewis. ''They like Miami guys,'' Fleming said.

Gooden said the Ravens came down to work him out in Miami. He said he has never been to Baltimore, but can't wait to get there for next weekend's rookie camp.

''It's something crazy,'' Gooden said. ``I've never met Ray Lewis, but he's like a brother to me because he's from Miami. He'll be my big brother.''

Gooden's high school coach, George Smith, said he was ecstatic for his former player.

''He went through injuries and everything else down there and came into his own as a senior,'' Smith said. ``He played every position they had there at linebacker and really shined when he played in the middle last season.''

Gooden said he wasn't disappointed about not getting drafted sooner.

''You can't be disappointed when you get a chance to play for the NFL,'' he said.

(miamiherald.com)

CORAL GABLES - The feeling at the University of Miami's Pro Timing Day was almost glum in February.

An event that attracted dozens of NFL coaches and scouts in the past was nearly empty.

Standouts Calais Campbell and Kenny Phillips spent most of the interview time answering questions as to whether their draft stock has fallen.

And then along came linebacker Tavares Gooden to perk up this frown of a day.

Gooden, who was all smiles that afternoon, has been the only Hurricanes player to actually improve his positioning in the draft. No talk of slipping into the next round. No talking heads calling him overrated. A solid showing in pre-draft workouts has helped Gooden elevate his status from a late-round pick to possibly being selected among the first three rounds on Saturday.

"I don't think I've started to peak yet," Gooden said. "I can't wait to show my skills at the next level."

Gooden, who played at St. Thomas Aquinas, is coming off a senior season where he led the team with 119 tackles. He was named the Hurricanes' defensive Most Valuable Player despite moving to middle linebacker during the preseason. Gooden had played on the outside most of his career, but made the switch because of injuries on the team.

"I don't think the real me has came out yet," Gooden said. "I've played so many different positions here and I wouldn't call it a bad thing. I think that's been a great thing for me."

After an average performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Gooden improved his appeal with solid times in the 40-yard dash (4.5) and vertical leap (39.5) at the UM Pro Timing Day. His vertical was better than what anyone tested in Indianapolis. He said his statistics slipped at the NFL Combine because of injuries, but he is now healthy.

Gooden was hampered late in the season with a groin injury and missed the Senior Bowl because of hip problems.

"I think it's going to come down to me going to my different scouting days and going out there and showing them how well I can move," Gooden said. "I know I had a couple injuries, but I think I tested well with those injuries."

Gooden is projected to play outside linebacker in the NFL, where ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as the No. 2 prospect. Most mock drafts have Gooden chosen in the third round. He is predicted as being taken by Atlanta with the 68th pick, according to www.nfldraftcountdown.com.

Rob Rang, a senior analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, said Gooden could be "one of the steals of the draft."

"With Gooden, you just wonder if he's for real," Rang said. "Is he the guy that dominated in the middle or is he a guy just playing hard now that he's a senior and there's a paycheck involved? But I'm very high on him. He was absolutely Miami's best player."

Gooden also says he has tradition on his side. The Hurricanes have produced great NFL linebackers, including Ray Lewis, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams and Dan Morgan. He says he's spent the last few weeks receiving advice from each, hoping their words can lead him to a successful professional career.

"Everybody helps out," Gooden said. "Jonathan Vilma, he comes back. I played weakside my first year and D.J. Williams was there. Even guys who are not even here. I talk to Twan Russell, Dan Morgan all the time. All those guys come back and they give me feedback and they let me know what am I doing wrong or right.

"Also, they're telling me even though I'm doing good, to keep pushing it."

(sun-sentinlel.com)

The University of Miami has had at least one first-round pick in each of the last 13 NFL drafts. But that streak is in danger of coming to an end this year.

Two Hurricanes -- safety Kenny Phillips and defensive end Calais Campbell -- have a chance of going in the first round, but neither is better than a 50-50 bet. (ESPN's Mel Kiper said today that he thinks Campbell is more likely than Phillips to go in Round 1.) A few other Hurricanes -- including linebacker Tavares Gooden, wide receiver Darnell Jenkins, cornerback Glenn Sharpe and quarterback Kyle Wright -- could be drafted, but not on the first day.

I've heard some people suggest that the absence of a first-round pick is a major sign of the decline in the talent level at Miami. There's some truth to that, but don't shed any tears for the Miami program. There's so much great talent that comes out of South Florida -- and Miami coach Randy Shannon seems like such a good recruiter -- that even if there are no first-round picks in Miami this year, I see it as more a blip than a trend.

(aolsports.com)

Beyond Calais Campbell, Kenny Phillips and Tavares Gooden, draftnik and NFL team consultant Frank Coyle says cornerback Glenn Sharpe and receiver Darnell Jenkins are the other Canes with the best chance of being drafted, though it's no sure thing for those two. . . . Draftnik/former Browns scout Russ Lande said of Gooden, ''I'll be shocked if he gets out of the third round and he might go in the second.'' Baltimore is among several teams that like him.

(miamiherald.com)

Hurricanes linebacker Tavares Gooden's workout schedule has been jam-packed. The former St. Thomas Aquinas standout visited the Saints earlier this week and worked out for the Bears and Packers at UM on Thursday. Gooden, who was limited by a hip injury at the combine and UM's Pro Day, is also scheduled to workout for the Colts on Sunday and is committed to visiting the Titans, Giants and 49ers in the coming weeks. "I'm getting some good looks because teams know I can play all three linebacker spots since I did it at Miami," said Gooden, who had a breakout senior season, contributing a team-high 100 tackles when he played middle linebacker. Gooden's representatives are trying to arrange a private workout with the Dolphins.

(sun-sentinel.com)

On Friday morning, the Dolphins will hold their local pro day. The mass workout session gives players from South Florida colleges and high schools an extra chance to make an impression and helps the Dolphins mine regional talent.

The Miami Hurricanes will be well-represented Friday. Among them will be three highly rated prospects: outside linebacker Tavares Gooden, defensive end Calais Campbell and safety Kenny Phillips. Also expected are receiver Lance Leggett and guards Andrew Bain and Derrick Morse.

(palmbeachpost.com)

By the way, the Dolphins will be working out a number of local players this Friday, and one of them is former UM linebacker Tavares Gooden, who had a breakout senior season when he was moved inside, becoming the Hurricanes middle linebacker. Gooden's stock has dropped a little because he's been battling a hip injury that's prevented him from working out fully. He's a freakish athlete, but isn't very instinctive, so he'd be ideal as a outside linebacker in a 4-3. But he does have the size and strength (22 reps of 225 pounds) the Trifecta likes and excels in the special teams aspect of the game.

(gomiamidolphins.com)

The Saints hosted Miami (Fla.) linebacker Tavares Gooden in New Orleans on Monday. Sean Kiernan, the agent for Gooden, confirmed the visits.

Gooden could be a possible second-round caliber player. He projects to play at any linebacking spot and ran a 4.48 40-yard dash at Miami's pro day. Gooden led the Hurricanes with 100 total tackles.
(sunherald.com)

How great would it be to have a Bermuda Triangle of Vilma, Morgan and Gooden in New Orleans?

Tavares Gooden is one of the most exciting linebacking prospects in the 2008 NFL Draft. Gooden continues the long line of outstanding Hurricane linebackers and took a few minutes to discuss his Miami career and his NFL aspirations with the War Room Report's Chris Otwell. 

Chris Otwell: What position do you think you translate best to at the NFL level?

Tavares Gooden: Any line backer spot.  Playing at Miami I played at all 3 linebacker spots, so that’s what I bring to the table. I feel like I can play all of them well so in the NFL, I'll play all the line backer spots and I feel like I am good at every one of them.

Otwell: How do you feel the combine went and were you satisfied with your performance?

Gooden: I went out there and did everything I had to do and trained for. I ran hard. You can only run as fast as you can run and jump as high as you can jump. Next to everyone else’s performance as a whole, I feel like I showed my explosiveness and my speed. 

Otwell: You were a high school track and field star, how has that helped you become a better football player? 

Gooden: I don’t know that it did, I mean it just shows how athletic I am. I’m not sure that track and field can help you be a better football player, it just shows how willing you are to compete. It shows how fast you are, how strong you are, and how much of a burst you have. I think playing other sports just shows how smart you are and shows off how versatile you really are. I think that track showed that everything I show isn’t a fluke, that I can do it on the track too, and just shows that I have what it takes to be competitive and win. 

Otwell: How did playing with Rd 1 talent such as Calais Campbell , Kenny Phillips , and Jon Beason help your development? 

Gooden: Well, it wasn’t jus those guys, I played with Jonathan Vilma, DJ Williams, Sean Taylor, Frank Gore, Kellen Winslow, Devin Hester.  It just shows you the talent level at the University of Miami and helps you out because when you got to play other players, you have seen that type of speed, even faster than what you see normally and that helps you out a lot. 

Otwell: What do you think the biggest transition is going to be going from college to the pro level?

Gooden: I mean I don’t think its going to be a hard transition for me because I have the physical tools to play at the next level.  I think I can help myself by meeting with coaches all day and learning the systems and getting to know them.

Otwell: What do you feel like your strengths are going into the NFL? 

Gooden: Well, I am physically ready for the NFL. I feel like I can go out there and play, and respond to the system. I feel like I can respond well and play middle linebacker well. I called the shots at MLB, I called the checks, I'm fast, I can run with TE’s and WR’s, even guys with 4.3 speed. I have all the tools that a MLB needs to play in the NFL and excel at that level.

Otwell: If you could tell the NFL coaches right now what kind of player they will be getting if they draft Tavares Gooden, what would you tell them?

Gooden: I mean they wouldn’t question my work ethic.  As a freshman I squatted around 400 lbs when I was red shirted.  In my senior year I ended up squatting 550 and bench pressing 355, came in running 4.6, so you can’t question my work ethic.  I am going to be bigger, faster, and stronger and I do all the things it takes to win and be a good MLB.

Otwell: If you had to compare your game to any current NFL player, who would that player be and why?

Gooden: I’m different from those other guys, you know.  There are a lot of guys that came before me but I wouldn’t compare my game to any of them. I have a different style and I can do many different things, so I don’t think it would be a comparison to any of them.  If I had to be, I would say that I am a couple players rolled into one.

(warroomreport.com)

UM players -- including Kenny Phillips, Calais Campbell, Tavares Gooden and Kyle Wright -- will work out for the Dolphins on April 11. Though some believe Phillips will be available when Miami picks 32nd, he said Miami wasn't among 24 teams that met with him at the NFL combine. With more pressing needs (offensive line, etc.), it's doubtful that the Dolphins will take a safety that high. . . .

(miamiherald.com)

OLB Tavares Gooden (Miami, Fla) — Want to find No. 52? Just locate the football. The subject of apparent disappointment following mid to high 4.6 40-yard times at the Combine, Gooden plays fast, and shows very good peripheral vision and awareness. He does lack the speed in pass coverage and overall take-on ability to play the strong side in the pros, but should excel as a weak-side ’backer if allowed to roam free.

(profootballweekly.com)

NFL Draft Bible.Com' On College Football has Tavares Gooden drafted in the second round to the Carolina Panthers with the 44th pick.