What Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden told teams at the NFL Scouting Combine about his profane gesture at Alabama. Jason Wolf / USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
INDIANAPOLIS — Rashaan Gaulden had some explaining to do.
The Tennessee defensive back knew the question was coming, again and again and again, from coaches and general managers at the NFL Scouting Combine, about that game in October in Tuscaloosa and how he punctuated a teammate’s long interception return for a touchdown by extending twin middle fingers to the Alabama crowd. The gesture drew a 15-yard penalty in a game the Vols lost 45-7. He apologized after the defeat.
“A lot of teams have asked me about that,” Gaulden said at the combine, “and I just tell them I’ve matured since then. I tell them that there’s no place in the game for that kind of act. I took it upon myself in the locker room after the game to ask for a public apology to the media, so that’s just something that I go back home and I wish I didn’t do because you have kids mimicking that same gesture and people thinking that it’s cool. But to me personally, that’s not the way I want to be remembered at the University of Tennessee.”
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NFL coaches and executives seemed satisfied by that answer, Gaulden said.
“They just want to know if I’ve matured and grown since then,” he said, “and being the genuine guy I am, they see that.”
“I can’t believe that was you that did that,” he said he was often told.
“So I regret that, but I definitely learned from it.”
The 6-foot-1, 193-pound Gaulden served as outside corner, nickel corner and safety during the three seasons he played in Knoxville. He probably projects as a slot corner in the NFL.
He was among the Vols’ top players last season, when the junior started all 12 games and finished with 65 tackles, including 3½ for loss, an interception, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Gaulden might not have demonstrated his finest performance in on-field drills Sunday, but he offered his interviewers several strong answers.
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Gaulden said his favorite memory at Tennessee was when Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett broke the school’s career sack record, previously held by Reggie White, in the 2016 Music City Bowl.
“It just speaks volumes for him as a competitor and him being my best friend,” Gaulden said. “Seeing that unfold right in front of my eyes, that was probably my best moment at the University of Tennessee.”
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Gaulden, who graduated from Independence, was teammates with Barnett at Brentwood Academy before transferring after his sophomore season.
At Brentwood Academy, he also played alongside Jaguars All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Murray State defensive back D’Montre Wade, who was competing in the same group of prospects at the combine.
“Me and Rashaan, we go back, man,” Wade said. “He’s like a brother. That’s my boy. It’s good seeing his face. … We didn’t get to see each other as much (in college), and now just linking back up, it’s a great feeling to see him.”
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The 6-foot, 200-pound Wade said Barnett called before the combine to give pointers on what to expect. Wade said he thought he might be overlooked coming out of the FCS.
Wade was a four-year starter at Murray State and led the Ohio Valley Conference with six interceptions last season, when he also contributed 33 tackles and seven pass breakups.
He set a personal record Saturday with 15 reps in the bench press.
“My dad always told me, no matter where I play at, if you’re balling they’re going to find you,” Wade said.
Both Gaulden and Wade said they’ve spoken with the Titans, and that it’d be a dream come true to play in the NFL so close to home.
In between interviews, medical exams and drills, they spent some time together reminiscing about their journey.
“Just talking about how we got here, as freshmen being (in) the same defensive backfield,” Gaulden said. “We all talked about being here at the combine, pro day, being able to make it to the league. It’s not a surprise for us because we know what kind of work ethic we put into this game and we knew we would meet each other at the top, no matter which way we went.”
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While Wade came to the combine intent on having NFL coaches and executives take notice, Gaulden wanted to ensure he left teams with a positive impression.
“They’re getting a guy with a ton of swagger,” Gaulden said. “I like to play to the fans, like to make them happy when I play, and I just love to compete. I’m a guy that’s not going to give up the deep ball, a guy that’s not going to be the weakness in the secondary. I’m a natural leader.”
Reach Jason Wolf at jwolf@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @JasonWolf and on Instagram and Snapchat at TitansBeat.
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