Maybe it?s because they both played at the University of Miami or maybe, it?s because they both wore No. 52 when playing linebacker for the Hurricanes. But now, Ray Lewis and rookie Tavares Gooden have something else in common: a dorm room.
Lewis, one of Baltimore?s biggest icons, and Gooden, who the team drafted in the third round, will share a room until the end of training camp next month.
“That?s the original 5-2,” said Gooden, who will wear No. 49. “He makes you want to go out there and play harder. Wearing that number in college, made me feel good. Everyone called me ?Baby Ray.? Wearing 52 put a lot more pressure on me to be a better player.”
Gooden said he?ll seek the advice of Lewis and other former Miami stars such as safety Ed Reed and running back Willis McGahee. He?ll talk with Lewis about playing with energy, with McGahee teaching him how to make the game fun and Reed showing him desire.
“Aggressiveness, aggressiveness,” said Lewis when asked about Gooden. “He?s aggressive, he just wants to fly around and hit everything.”
Gooden came into his own at Miami during his senior year when he was moved from outside to middle linebacker. Last season, he led the Hurricanes with a career-high 100 tackles ? 60 unassisted ? to go along with an interception and three pass deflections. In 49 career games, Gooden had 216 tackles.
Gooden made a quick ascension after taking a medical redshirt in 2005, when he separated his left shoulder in the first game of the season against Florida State. The injury gave him a year to improve his physique and academic standing. In May of 2007, Gooden graduated with a double major in liberal arts and criminology.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Gooden should be the perfect fit in a star-studded group of linebackers that includes Pro Bowlers Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs.
“This is a defense built on speed, running to the ball and being physical,” Harbaugh said. “We felt coming out of Miami [Gooden] was all of those things. We think he?s a good fit.”
