Background
Goodman was born in Florence, South Carolina.
Goodman was born in Florence, South Carolina.
He attended West Florence High School, and played for the West Florence Knights high school football team
He played college football at Clemson, and was drafted by the Falcons in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He had a productive senior season with 73 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks in nine games, and was a finalist for Mr. Football in South Carolina.
He participated in the 2009 United States. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
Rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated the second best strong side defensive end in the nation. He accepted a scholarship offer from Clemson University over offers from Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Following his high school graduation in December 2008, Goodman enrolled in Clemson University in January 2009, and immediately began practice with the Clemson Tigers football team During his college career, he amassed 150 tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss, 12 quarterback sacks, 35 quarterback pressures, three pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, and one recovered fumble, in 2,061 snaps over 54 games (28 starts) in his career.
He is tied for second in Clemson Tigers team history in games played and tied for third in forced fumbles.
Goodman was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round, with the 127th pick overall, of the 2013 NFL Draft. The Falcons announced he signed his rookie contract on May 17, 2013. Terms were not disclosed.
