Sports

Jamal Golden: 'I just want to get my foot in the door'

October 24, 2015 Atlanta: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Jamal Golden makes an interception in the end zone to stop the Florida State Seminoles' drive late in the 4th quarter Saturday October 24, 2015. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM
October 24, 2015 Atlanta: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Jamal Golden makes an interception in the end zone to stop the Florida State Seminoles' drive late in the 4th quarter Saturday October 24, 2015. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM
April 26, 2016

Former Georgia Tech safety Jamal Golden doesn’t particularly care about his route of entry to the NFL. All he wants is a chance to prove himself.

“Either way, I just want to get my foot in the door, no matter how that is,” Golden said.

Golden said his agent Spencer Cannold told him that the consensus that he had heard from teams is that he was likely a late-round pick. Draft expert Tony Pauline sees him as an undrafted free agent. Either way, he seems likely to get his chance at professional football.

Golden’s ticket may be his versatility. He has played all four positions in the secondary and finished his career as one of Tech’s most productive return specialists.

“They’re going to get a guy that’s very smart, that is going to study his opponent and is going to do what he has to do to be successful and be in the right place on Sundays,” Golden said. “A guy that’s going to be very valuable on special teams.”

Golden said that six or seven teams had reached out to him to express interest and make sure of his whereabouts on draft weekend.

“Things are looking up,” Golden said. “Just ready to see what happens this weekend.”

The draft begins with the first round Thursday, the second and third rounds Friday and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday.

About the Author

Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.

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