Gooden Taken on Day Two of 2008 NFL Draft

April 27, 2008

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Senior linebacker Tavares Gooden was selected on Day Two of the 2008 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday. Gooden was the only University of Miami Hurricane selected on Sunday, going off the board in the third round as the 71st overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens.

Gooden, a fifth-year senior, led the Hurricanes in total tackles (119) this past season. Playing in all 12 games for UM, Gooden also tallied three tackles for loss, one interception and three fumble recoveries. He joins former Hurricanes Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Willis McGahee on the Ravens’ roster.

Last year, Miami had two players taken on the second day. Defensive end Baraka Atkins was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round with the 120th overall pick before defensive tackle Kareem Brown was taken seven picks later by the New England Patriots at No. 127.

On Saturday, juniors Kenny Phillips and Calais Campbell were chosen in the first and second rounds respectively. Phillips extended Miami’s record streak of 14 consecutive years in which a Hurricanes player was chosen in the first round when he was selected by the New York Giants with the 31st overall pick before Campbell was chosen later in the day by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round with the 50th overall selection.