[citation needed] During high school, he played as both a safety and running back.

Gooden received athletic scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Purdue and Stanford, but chose to attend the University of Missouri.

During his first season he was used as backup to the starting linebackers, but played in 13 games, making 30 tackles and forcing one fumble.

He kept up his momentum in his junior season, with 80 tackles, one sack, two interceptions and four broken up passes in his 13 games.

His senior season was broken up by a hamstring injury and he played only 10 games, from which he made 61 tackles and a single interception, which was returned for a touchdown versus Southeastern Louisiana Lions.

[3] On September 5, 2015, Gooden was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but was waived the following week.