Something to Prove
August 03, 2009 01:57 PM | General
August 3, 2009
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| Najae Goode |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - After seeing action for the first time last season, sophomore linebacker Najae Goode is ready to put his brute strength to use and add even more depth to a talented Mountaineer linebacker unit.
In 2008, the Cleveland, Ohio, resident earned time on the field in all 13 games. Goode took part in more than 120 plays, making 12 tackles - and most notably - a game-sealing 28-yard interception and return in WVU’s 35-21 victory at Louisville.
Using the experience he gained as a redshirt freshman, Goode is looking to expand his role in the 3-3-5 stack by playing all three linebacker positions: Sam, Will and Mike. The former Benedictine High standout is trying to do whatever is necessary to make himself versatile enough to get on the field, even playing on special teams in 2008.
Given a chance to compete and add tremendous depth to this year’s defense, Goode enters fall camp once again leading the Mountaineers in one of the most important strength tests in football – the bench press. He was putting up 475 pounds entering the 2008 season, and he increased that total to 485 pounds during the spring.
Today, Goode is throwing up about ¼ ton on the bench press.
“I’m benching 500 pounds, and doing that wasn’t easy,” Goode acknowledged. “I just try to keep that up and follow with a good work ethic.”
No player, coach or fan will ever need to question Goode’s passion and pride, especially by looking at his eye-popping strength marks. During the spring he benched 225 pounds 26 times, squatted 585 pounds, and had a 35-inch vertical jump. Although such statistics are not produced overnight, Goode began lifting at a later age than many other football players.
“In high school I only started to lift my sophomore year, but a lot of people don’t believe me,” Goode said. “I just like working out and I take pride in showing the other guys how to lift properly.”
Goode’s rugged physique has always been self-made, but carrying an athletically gifted pedigree has also been helpful. His father, John, was a standout player at Youngstown State and played two seasons in the National Football League with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1984-85.
Brother Tariq lettered at Youngstown State as a wideout in 2006, while Wakeem finished his senior season at Hampton in 2008 leading the team with 111 tackles at linebacker en route to an all-MEAC conference second team selection.
Goode is still waiting to write his own chapter in the family’s history, but is thankful to have a father and a pair of brothers who know how to train and stay in shape for the rigorous fall and winter seasons of football.
“I started lifting and got into the groove of it,” Goode admitted. “I guess I got it from my dad. He just gives me tips as well as my two older brothers, basically saying you got to get better everyday. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.”
Goode was moved to the weakside position in the spring, but believes he can play any of the three linebacker positions. As studious as he is away from the field as an engineering major, the well-spoken player is a firm believer that you can never know and learn too much in the complicated Xs and Os of college football. He set several goals for himself during the spring, with the primary one being to develop enough mentally as he has physically.
“My goal was to come in and really become a student of the game,” Goode said. “Coach Stewart always wants us to come in and work on something different every day because we need to progress during the spring so when we come into camp we have some intensity.”
With defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel looking to blitz even more with his linebackers and secondary players in 2009, Goode will have the opportunity to put his speed and strength to full use as he continues to develop in the 3-3-5 scheme.
“It’s exciting for everybody because blitzing gets your number called,” Goode said. “We’ve been working on it since last spring, and it makes the game a little faster.”
With fall camp beginning this Saturday, Goode is undoubtedly well equipped to handle the physical anguish of going up against his teammates in the heat and humidity. He enters the season about 10 pounds lighter than last year, yet has increased his strength totals.
However, Goode admits that although his hard work in the offseason is geared for making a better impression during the fall, the dread of camp still lingers from time to time.
“We’ve been working out all spring and summer and we’ve gotten a couple breaks,” Goode said. “You get a little weary because we want to put our pads back on, but camp is a whole ‘nother story.”
Although training camp is tiresome for all of the players, it is essential for every athlete to learn, battle and grow together as the season rolls around. And for a player like Goode who is looking to find his niche, it is a chance to prove his worth and ability in becoming a mainstay in WVU’s talented linebacker corps.
