SEC Football Top 150 Players: No. 114, Zaviar Gooden, Missouri LB

The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30 at the start of the college football regular season.

No. 114: Zaviar Gooden, No. 25, Missouri, Linebacker

2011 Stats: 80 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack

Strengths

Gooden is an ultra-athletic linebacker with the size of a linebacker and agility of a defensive back. The 6'2", 230-pound senior has been a starter for two seasons and finished third on the Tigers with 80 tackles last season. He is a high-energy guy whose energy can permeate through the defense.

Missouri's defense takes a lot of heat coming from the Big 12, but Gooden has All-SEC talent and will be in that discussion after this season.

Weaknesses

The transition to the SEC will obviously be a story for all of the players on Missouri's roster, but SEC offenses aren't exactly as potent as the ones that Gooden saw in the Big 12. Missouri lost three defensive linemen from a year ago, so the front seven will be a little different in 2012. That shouldn't impact Gooden that much due to his athleticism, but it is something to watch. 

2012 Prediction

Expect big things from Gooden. He has the ability to be a game-changer, and expect him to be in the mix of big plays and turnovers early and often for the Tigers in 2012.

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