Panthers pick Rashaan Gaulden giving double birds to Alabama fans is his greatest highlight from Tennessee

Former Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden was selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the Carolina on Friday night in the third round. Gaulden saw the most of his playing time in his last two seasons in Knoxville, accounting for 133 total taclkles in 2016 and 2017.

But aside from his on-field performance as a cornerback, Gauldeen is fondly remembered by Tennessee fans as the guy who gloriously flipped off a bunch of Bama fans in Tuscaloosa after his team scored its only touchdown of the game during a blowout. Let’s just say this photo is like college football’s Mona Lisa:

It gets better, though — exactly one week after these double birds, Gaulden was ejected against Kentucky.

But perhaps the best part about all of this? Five months later, Gaulden stood by his decision for giving double birds, and blamed it on just hating Alabama, one of Tennessee’s biggest rivals aside from maybe Georgia:

“I hate Alabama. That’s just the way it is,” Gaulden told the media.

Gaulden immediately owned up to the gesture and apologized after the game, but it’s hard to place too much blame on the kid. He was in the middle of the worst season of Tennessee football ever, literally. His team was getting taken apart by Alabama. His emotions got the better of him, sure, but I can hardly blame the guy for taking a brief moment to let out some frustrations.

Gaulden was projected to go around round four or five, and although Tennessee’s poor records while he was in Knoxville might overshadow his talent, he’ll be a contributor wherever he ends up. One of the biggest questions for him will be if he’ll play nickel or cornerback with the Panthers.

“Gaulden, the defensive back, he’s kind of interesting,” Mike Mayock said in March via Go Voles 247. “I don’t know what he is. I watch him on tape. He plays nickel. He’s tough. He hustles to the football. He’s got some range.”

His Tennessee days may be behind him, but I’d put money on him being remembered for his double-bird antics for a good bit at the beginning of his NFL career.