2014 ALL-ACC, THIRD TEAM (ACSMA, coaches)
2014 ALL-ACC, HONORABLE MENTION – SPECIALIST (ACSMA)
2015 (Redshirt Senior): Started all 12 games at strong safety … Led all defensive backs with 64 tackles and finished tied for team lead with 45 solo tackes … Had four pass break-ups and one interception … Retured 18 kicks for 359 yards and 16 punts for 161 yards … Recorded two solo tackles vs. Alcorn State (Sept. 3) … Added 16-yard kickoff return and two punt returns for 45 yards … Had one tackle, 44-yard punt return and 34-yard kickoff return vs. Tulane (Sept. 12) … Tallied four solo tackles, 48 yards on three punt returns, and 39 yards on two kick returns at Notre Dame (Sept. 19) … Recorded four tackles and returned four kicks for 80 yards at Duke (Sept. 26) … Season-high five tackles vs. North Carolina (Oct. 3) … Registered career-high-tying eight tackles (seven solo) and one TFL at Clemson (Oct. 10) … Tallied three tackles vs. Pitt (Oct. 17) … Registered career-best nine tackles, one tackle for loss, one PBU and one interception in last-second win over Florida State (Oct. 24) … Was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week for performance vs. Seminoles … Tied career high with nine tackles and two pass break-ups at Virginia (Oct. 31) … Made four solo stops and recorded career-first fumble recovery vs. Virginia Tech (Nov. 12) … Led Jackets with eight tackles – six solo – in season finale vs. Georgia (Nov. 28).
2014 (Redshirt Junior): Played in 14 games, starting 12 … Finished sixth on team with 61 tackles, including 43 solo stops … Tied for team lead with four interceptions, including one for touchdown, forced three fumbles and broke up three passes … Recorded career-high eight tackles, including seven solo, 1.0 tackle for loss, and one forced fumble in Tech’s 49-34 Orange Bowl win over Mississippi State (Dec. 31) … Had seven tackles, broke up pass and returned three kickoffs for 45 yards vs. Florida State in ACC Championship Game (Dec. 6) … Recorded three tackles, including one for loss of one yard, and returned two kickoffs for 20 yards at Georgia (Nov. 29) … Returned interception 85 yards for touchdown and registered five tackles vs. Clemson (Nov. 15) … Returned three punts for 17 yards and one kickoff for 26 yards while recording four tackles at NC State (Nov. 8) … Returned two kickoffs for 35 yards, had one interception and two solo tackles vs. Virginia (Nov. 1) … Recorded five tackles and forced fumble at Pitt (Oct. 25) … Had seven tackles, recorded second interception of season and returned two kickoffs for 43 yards at North Carolina (Oct. 18) … Returned two kicks for 119 yards, including long of 68 yards, and had one solo tackle vs. Duke (Oct. 11) … Recorded interception in Miami’s end zone with 1:11 left in game and tallied four solo tackles and one pass break-up vs. Miami (Oct. 4) … Had six tackles and returned one kickoff for 21 yards at Virginia Tech (Sept. 20) … Had six tackles, including two tackles for loss of seven yards, forced fumble late in fourth quarter that set up Tech’s game-winning drive and returned two kickoffs for 36 yards vs. Georgia Southern (Sept. 13) … Notched two solo tackles and returned two kickoffs for 51 yards at Tulane (Sept. 6) … In first game back from missing last season due to injury, recorded one tackle, had five kick returns for 140 yards, including 40-yard return and two punt returns for 24 yards against Wofford (Aug. 30).
2013 (Redshirt Sophomore): Started first three games of the season … Suffered season-ending shoulder injury in third game of season vs. North Carolina (Sept. 21) … Recorded 12 tackles (eight solo tackles) and forced fumble in those three games … Also managed 151 yards on returns … Had five tackles, four solo tackles and recovered fumble in season opener vs. Elon (Aug. 31) … Recorded three tackles, two kick returns for 44 yards and one 12-yard punt return at Duke (Sept. 14) … Registered three solo tackles and three kickoff returns for 95 yards vs. North Carolina (Sept. 21).
2012 (Sophomore): Played in all 14 games and started at safety first five games of season … Emerged as Tech’s primary kick and punt returner by late September … Produced 952 all-purpose yards even though he did not play snap on offense … Ranked second on team in interceptions (3) for team-high 52 yards … Also had 24 tackles, three pass break-ups and one forced fumble … Ranked third in ACC in both punt return and kick return average … Made career-first start in nationally-televised game at Virginia Tech (Sept. 3) and responded with six tackles and 21-yard kickoff return … Made career-first interception five days later against Presbyterian (Sept. 8) … Had punt returns of 56 and 28 yards vs. Miami (Sept. 22) … Returned kickoff 97 yards for touchdown vs. BYU (Oct. 27) – Tech’s first kick return for TD since Oct. 31, 1998 … Had 174 yards total of five kickoff returns against Cougars … Topped performance two weeks later at North Carolina, returning kick 100 yards for TD (Nov. 10) … Had 261 all-purpose yards against Tar Heels … Picked off pass against Duke (Nov. 17) … Had two punt returns for 56 yards and recorded key interception against USC in Hyundai Sun Bowl (Dec. 31).
2011 (True Freshman): Played in 11 games … Was top back-up in secondary, but most of action came on special teams … Recorded eight tackles (6 solos) … Also had one pass break-up … Made career debut at Middle Tennessee State (Sept. 10) and had one tackle … Recorded tackle vs. Kansas (Sept. 17) … Had two tackles in key road win at NC State (Oct. 1) … Also had tackles vs. Maryland, Virginia and Utah.
High School: Wetumpka HS … Played four seasons, including three as team captain, for coach Chad Anderson … Played cornerback, quarterback and was punt and kick returner … Led Indians to Class 6A area championship as senior … Earned all-state, all-area and all-metro honors … Named Alabama’s Old Spice Player of the Year, Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Football in state of Alabama … Produced 3,477 yards of total offense and 37 touchdowns … Passed for 2,351 yards and 23 touchdowns … Added 1,148 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns … Also played four seasons of both basketball and baseball.
Personal: Full name is Javonta Jamal Golden … Has older brother, Tavares … Cousin, Reggie Golden, was selected in second round of 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by Chicago Cubs … Born March 4, 1993, in Montgomery, Ala. … Majoring in business administration.
CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 9, twice – last at Virginia, Oct. 31, 2015
Tackles For Loss: 2 vs. Georgia Southern, Sept. 13, 2014
Forced Fumbles: 1, five times
Pass Break-Ups: 2 at Virginia, Oct. 31, 2015
Interceptions: 1, eight times – last time vs. Florida State, Oct. 24, 2015
Interception Return: 85 vs. Clemson, Nov. 15, 2014 (TD)
Punt Returns: 4 at Maryland, Nov. 3, 2012
Punt Return Yards: 84 vs. Miami, Sept. 22, 2012
Long Punt Return: 56, twice – last vs. USC, Dec. 31, 2012
Kickoff Returns: 7 at North Carolina, Nov. 10, 2012
Long Kickoff Return: 100 at North Carolina, Nov. 10, 2012
Kickoff Return Yards: 230 at North Carolina, Nov. 10, 2012
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