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Jamal Golden
Class: RS Senior
Hometown: Wetumpka, Ala.
High School: Wetumpka
Height / Weight: 6-0 / 195
Position: DB
Birthdate: 03/04/1993
2014 ALL-ACC, THIRD TEAM (ACSMA, coaches)
2014 ALL-ACC, HONORABLE MENTION – SPECIALIST (ACSMA)
2014 (Redshirt Junior): Played in 14 games, starting 12 ... Finished sixth on team with 61 tackles, including 43 solo stops ... Tied for team lead with four interceptions, including one for touchdown, forced three fumbles and broke up three passes ... Recorded career-high eight tackles, including seven solo, 1.0 tackle for loss, and one forced fumble in Tech’s 49-34 Orange Bowl win over Mississippi State (Dec. 31) ... Had seven tackles, broke up pass and returned three kickoffs for 45 yards vs. Florida State in ACC Championship Game (Dec. 6) ... Recorded three tackles, including one for loss of one yard, and returned two kickoffs for 20 yards at Georgia (Nov. 29) ... Returned interception 85 yards for touchdown and registered five tackles vs. Clemson (Nov. 15) ... Returned three punts for 17 yards and one kickoff for 26 yards while recording four tackles at NC State (Nov. 8) ... Returned two kickoffs for 35 yards, had one interception and two solo tackles vs. Virginia (Nov. 1) ... Recorded five tackles and forced fumble at Pitt (Oct. 25) ... Had seven tackles, recorded second interception of season and returned two kickoffs for 43 yards at North Carolina (Oct. 18) ... Returned two kicks for 119 yards, including long of 68 yards, and had one solo tackle vs. Duke (Oct. 11) ... Recorded interception in Miami’s end zone with 1:11 left in game and tallied four solo tackles and one pass break-up vs. Miami (Oct. 4) ... Had six tackles and returned one kickoff for 21 yards at Virginia Tech (Sept. 20) ... Had six tackles, including two tackles for loss of seven yards, forced fumble late in fourth quarter that set up Tech’s game-winning drive and returned two kickoffs for 36 yards vs. Georgia Southern (Sept. 13) ... Notched two solo tackles and returned two kickoffs for 51 yards at Tulane (Sept. 6) ... In first game back from missing last season due to injury, recorded one tackle, had five kick returns for 140 yards, including 40-yard return and two punt returns for 24 yards against Wofford (Aug. 30).
2013 (Redshirt Sophomore): Started first three games of the season ... Suffered season-ending shoulder injury in third game of season vs. North Carolina (Sept. 21) ... Recorded 12 tackles (eight solo tackles) and forced fumble in those three games ... Also managed 151 yards on returns ... Had five tackles, four solo tackles and recovered fumble in season opener vs. Elon (Aug. 31) ... Recorded three tackles, two kick returns for 44 yards and one 12-yard punt return at Duke (Sept. 14) ... Registered three solo tackles and three kickoff returns for 95 yards vs. North Carolina (Sept. 21).
2012 (Sophomore): Played in all 14 games and started at safety first five games of season ... Emerged as Tech’s primary kick and punt returner by late September ... Produced 952 all-purpose yards even though he did not play snap on offense ... Ranked second on team in interceptions (3) for team-high 52 yards ... Also had 24 tackles, three pass break-ups and one forced fumble ... Ranked third in ACC in both punt return and kick return average ... Made career-first start in nationally-televised game at Virginia Tech (Sept. 3) and responded with six tackles and 21-yard kickoff return ... Made career-first interception five days later against Presbyterian (Sept. 8) ... Had punt returns of 56 and 28 yards vs. Miami (Sept. 22) ... Returned kickoff 97 yards for touchdown vs. BYU (Oct. 27) – Tech’s first kick return for TD since Oct. 31, 1998 ... Had 174 yards total of five kickoff returns against Cougars ... Topped performance two weeks later at North Carolina, returning kick 100 yards for TD (Nov. 10) ... Had 261 all-purpose yards against Tar Heels ... Picked off pass against Duke (Nov. 17) ... Had two punt returns for 56 yards and recorded key interception against USC in Hyundai Sun Bowl (Dec. 31).
2011 (True Freshman): Played in 11 games ... Was top back-up in secondary, but most of action came on special teams ... Recorded eight tackles (6 solos) ... Also had one pass break-up ... Made career debut at Middle Tennessee State (Sept. 10) and had one tackle ... Recorded tackle vs. Kansas (Sept. 17) ... Had two tackles in key road win at NC State (Oct. 1) ... Also had tackles vs. Maryland, Virginia and Utah.
High School: Wetumpka HS ... Played four seasons, including three as team captain, for coach Chad Anderson ... Played cornerback, quarterback and was punt and kick returner ... Led Indians to Class 6A area championship as senior ... Earned all-state, all-area and all-metro honors ... Named Alabama’s Old Spice Player of the Year, Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Football in state of Alabama ... Produced 3,477 yards of total offense and 37 touchdowns ... Passed for 2,351 yards and 23 touchdowns ... Added 1,148 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns ... Also played four seasons of both basketball and baseball.
Personal: Full name is Javonta Jamal Golden ... Has older brother, Tavares ... Cousin, Reggie Golden, was selected in second round of 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by Chicago Cubs ... Born March 4, 1993, in Montgomery, Ala. ... Majoring in business administration.