Missouri junior linebacker Zaviar Gooden has been named to the Bendarik Award watch list. The award is presented to the nation’s best defensive player.
As a first year starter in 2010, Gooden led Mizzou with 85 tackles. He made eight tackles in the season opener against Illinois, which tied him for second on the team. The game also marked his first career start. He also had five turnovers on the season, including two recovered fumbles, one forced fumble and two interceptions, including a key interception off of Oklahoma’s Landry Jones in the fourth quarter of the Tigers’ upset win over the Sooners back on October.
