Jeff Gooch was the epitome of versatility during his Austin Peay football career (1992-95). He played strong/free safety, rover, quarterback and outside linebacker while a Governor. Recruited as a defensive back, injuries forced him to shift to quarterback—one of his prep positions—as a sophomore. He threw for 431 yards and rushed for more 287 while also recording 12 tackles in two games at linebacker.
The Nashville native (Overton High School) played his final two years exclusively as a defender. He finished his career with 215 tackles, including 17 for loss. As a senior, he had one interception and five pass break ups to go with 87 tackles.
At the conclusion of his senior season, he became the first APSU player in history to be invited and play in the Hula Bowl in Honolulu.
Although, he went undrafted in the Spring 1996 draft, he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who converted him back to outside linebacker. He just completed his sixth season with the Bucs—one of the NFL’s most successful teams in the past five years—including 16 starts at outside linebacker in 1998.
He and his wife, Tonya, have a son, Dorien.
