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Tennessee Football: Emmit Gooden’s dismissal is a huge loss for the defense

By Colton Pickard

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Defensive lineman Emmit Gooden #93 of the Tennessee Volunteers, Linebacker Daniel Bituli #35 of the Tennessee Volunteers, and Linebacker Matt Ballard of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Defensive lineman Emmit Gooden #93 of the Tennessee Volunteers, Linebacker Daniel Bituli #35 of the Tennessee Volunteers, and Linebacker Matt Ballard of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Football dismissed Emmit Gooden on Thursday, and that’s a huge loss for the Tennessee defense when it comes to depth and talent.

Assuming there would be a 2020 college football season, Tennessee Football was gearing up to have a solid season in head coach Jeremy Pruitt’s third year in Knoxville. Eight wins seemed to be the minimum for the Vols this year, but the Tennessee defense has taken a huge hit with the dismissal of defensive lineman Emmit Gooden.

Gooden was arrested on Thursday and is facing a felony charge for aggravated domestic assault. In response, Pruitt dismissed him from the program.

I think that was the right decision for Pruitt. Hopefully used the situation as an opportunity to discuss domestic violence and domestic assault with his players.

But for the Tennessee defense, it’s a tough loss. Gooden has been in Knoxville for two seasons, and 2020 would’ve been his third. In his first season in 2018, he finished the year with 33 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, and one sack. The 2019 season wasn’t as productive as Gooden had a torn ACL and missed the entire 2019 season.

Gooden had high hopes in 2020, but it looks like he won’t be participating in the 2020 season either. He was expected to be a key piece in the Tennessee defense and a playmaker on the defensive line.

Standing at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, Gooden had an opportunity to pave his path to the NFL with the 2020 season. He could’ve been a second or third-day pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but unfortunately, that looks like it might not be the case anymore.

According to a report by WBIR out of Knoxville, Gooden got into a dispute with a woman and her boyfriend that turned violent. Gooden reportedly smashed a glass jar candle into the left side of the girlfriend’s head. She was later taken to UT Medical Center, where she received sutures.

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It’s a tough loss for Tennessee, but the game of football is about adapting and overcoming, so we will see how Pruitt and the Tennessee defense adjusts to the situation when the season comes around.

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