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Watch former Vol Rashaan Gaulden’s vicious hit in Carolina Panthers practice

By Caleb Calhoun

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 05: Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden (DB11) runs the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 05: Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden (DB11) runs the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Former Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Rashaan Gaulden laid a huge hit on Jarius Wright in a Carolina Panthers practice Monday.

If you didn’t know that former Vols defensive back Rashaan Gaulden was an intense player, you did not do your research. As a result, the Carolina Panthers should not be surprised when Gaulden goes all out even at the weirdest times.

Remember, this is a guy who flipped off the Alabama Crimson Tide fan base after his teammate, Daniel Bituli returned an interception for a touchdown. That cut Tennessee football’s deficit down to 28-7 after the extra point. So there was nothing to brag about, but Gaulden taunted fans in Tuscaloosa anyway.

Well, it looks like he’s now losing track of the proper time and place to be intense in the NFL as well. With preseason camp underway, Rashaan Gaulden was getting work with the first team on Monday. And he proceeded to lay this hit on veteran receiver Jarius Williams.

As you can see, teammates were not happy with him. Devin Funchess clearly got onto Gaulden for playing that intense in a spring game. According to the Charlotte Obeserver and other people at the practice, Ron Rivera got onto him as well.

To be fair, they have a point. The last thing the team wants is injuries right now, so Gaulden needs to know to fall back, even if he has something to prove. Gaulden is just lucky that Williams was able to return to the field.

However, you have to respect the guy’s competitive nature. Nobody in Knoxville would be surprised that the third-round draft pick from this past April would do such a thing. Rashaan Gaulden always won over fans in Knoxville by being this intense. Doing it at the NFL level is not going to be a surprise to anybody.

The real story is that Gaulden still knows how to play physical. And it’s also good news that he’s already getting play with the first team. But as a guy who suffered a season-ending injury himself in 2015, Gaulden should know not to risk things in practice. At least Carolina fans know he’ll go all out all the time.

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