High-upside linebacker with Power 5 pedigree and a comeback angle
Gooden is a long, athletic **6-3, 220-pound** linebacker prospect who arrived at Sacramento State with four-star pedigree, Under Armour All-American honors, and a track record as a former elite edge rusher recruit, giving him clear upside if he stays healthy.[1][4][10] He missed the entire 2025 season because of a knee injury, so the key question is durability, but his profile suggests a player who can bring length, range, and pass-rush instincts to the second level rather than just pile up routine tackles.[6][9][10]
