Golday is an athletic and high-energy linebacker with great size and the do-it-all versatility to line up just about everywhere on a defense. A transfer to Cincinnati in 2024 after three seasons at Central Arkansas, he racked up 105 tackles, including six tackles for loss, along with 3.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble for the Bearcats last year. He brings the toughness and physicality to play in the box or on the edge but also saw tons of snaps in the slot or as an overhang defender, where he was able to use his agility and speed to make plays in space. He showed great range at the second level, stringing out runs or chasing down backs on swing passes. He triggers downhill aggressively against the run, homing in on the ballcarrier while navigating the mess of bodies at the second level. He shows a good feel for positioning and does well not to overplay in pursuit, tracking the inside hip of the ballcarrier before breaking down to make the tackle. Golday sniffs out screens and shows awareness for misdirection. He packs a punch as a hitter and is explosive as a blitzer, closing in a flash. He’s a high-motor, nonstop hustle defender who never quits on a play. 

There are times when Golday struggles with taking on blocks; he’ll either take the brunt of it from his opponent or try to duck around them and end up out of position. He’s occasionally a beat slow to diagnose and attack downhill. He has experience rushing off the edge but could add to his pass rush arsenal instead of relying solely on speed and power. He’s still developing his instincts in zone looks, where he can give up too much space in coverage.