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Tennessee football: Former Vol Rashaan Gaulden could start for the Carolina Panthers

By Billy Williford

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Kadarius Toney #17 of the Florida Gators reaches for the football in front of Rashaan Gaulden #7 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of their game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Kadarius Toney #17 of the Florida Gators reaches for the football in front of Rashaan Gaulden #7 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of their game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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Rashaan Gaulden is making a name for himself in NFL training camp so far. He might even have the opportunity to be a starter week one.

Ask any Tennessee football fan that has watched Rashaan Gaulden the past couple of years, and they will tell you, he is one heck of a player. He had an aggressiveness and competitiveness about him that was unmatched.

In one of the worst seasons of Tennessee football, Gaulden stood out as a bright spot on the team. He was a physical player in the secondary and a warrior on the road. Just ask Alabama fans. Even in a 28-7 blowout, Gaulden was ready to go.

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He was a high motor kid and sometimes that got or presently could get him into trouble. Fellow site-expert wrote a piece on Gaulden earlier about his vicious hit from practice. You can read and watch the hit here. I will say this hit will probably get him into a couple of fights in the locker room. And, sure, players are mad, and that’s understandable.

I will also note there is a time and a place for hits like that. However, I don’t hold that against Gaulden. There is nothing guaranteed about the NFL. And, a lot of players get one shot to get coaches to notice them.

Everyone on an NFL roster has terrific talent. And, if you miss your chance, you may never have another one again. So, for Gaulden’s sake, hopefully, this isn’t a setback.

Back before the 2018 NFL draft, we wrote an article about the top-five landing spots for Rashaan Gaulden and the Panthers made our list at No. 2. Maybe instead of coaching, I should be an NFL GM?

Carolina had a tough run-stopping defense, but their passing defense was lackluster giving up 229.1 passing yards per game. It happened to rank 18th worst in the league, which isn’t typical Panthers fashion.

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Gaulden is a rookie and rookies do dumb stuff. Even players that have spent years in the league do stupid things. The nasty hit shouldn’t outweigh the undeniable talent he has. And, after accumulating a lot of first-team reps, we think he could start week one.

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