Emmit Gooden, DL
If not for a season-ending injury in fall camp last year, Emmit Gooden likely would’ve been able to be drafted into the NFL in 2020. But Gooden never got to play in his senior season, and he returns to UT for his redshirt senior year on a mission.
Gooden was arguably the Vols’ best defensive lineman outside of Kyle Phillips in 2018, and he looked to be in line for a major starting role in 2019. Then, a knee injury ended his season before it could even begin in August.
As a JUCO transfer in 2018, Gooden played in all 12 games and started one contest, totaling 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and a sack.
Can Gooden pick up where he left off from 2018? Or will his injury hold him back? There’s no guarantee Gooden will even start for the Vols in 2020 considering Tennessee returns all their starters and key contributors along the defensive line from the 2019 season and welcome in defensive linemen like Dominic Bailey and Omari Thomas, too.
Gooden’s draft stock looked a lot higher last year, but a strong redshirt senior season should help erase several doubts by NFL scouts.
