Wesley Woodyard facts for kids
Woodyard with the Tennessee Titans in 2018
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| No. 52, 59 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | July 21, 1986 LaGrange, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 233 lb (106 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | LaGrange (GA) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Kentucky (2004–2007) | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Wesley Woodyard Jr. (born July 21, 1986) is a former American football player. He played as a linebacker in the NFL. Woodyard played college football for the University of Kentucky. He then joined the Denver Broncos in 2008 and later played for the Tennessee Titans.
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Early Life and High School Football
Wesley Woodyard was born in LaGrange, Georgia. He went to LaGrange High School. During his senior year, he was named the best defensive player in Georgia's Class AAA. He was also chosen for the all-state team.
Woodyard played football for four years in high school. His team had an amazing record of 51 wins and only 3 losses in three seasons. They even won two state championships.
College Football Career
Woodyard started his college career at the University of Kentucky in 2004.
Freshman and Sophomore Years (2004-2005)
As a freshman in 2004, Woodyard played in 10 games. He started as a strong safety and then moved to inside linebacker. He made 34 tackles and was named to the Freshman All-SEC Team.
In 2005, as a sophomore, he started all 11 games as a linebacker. He made 100 tackles and recovered four fumbles. He was recognized as a second-team Sophomore All-American.
Junior and Senior Years (2006-2007)
In 2006, Woodyard started all 13 games. He led his team with 122 tackles. He was named the Defensive MVP in the Music City Bowl.
As a senior in 2007, he again started all 13 games. He led the team with 139 tackles. Woodyard was a very important player for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Professional Football Career
Wesley Woodyard had a long career in the NFL, playing for the Denver Broncos and the Tennessee Titans.
Playing for the Denver Broncos (2008-2013)
Starting His NFL Journey (2008)
In 2008, the Denver Broncos signed Woodyard. He made his NFL debut against the Oakland Raiders. In November 2008, he got his first NFL start. He made ten tackles in a game against the Cleveland Browns. Woodyard finished his first season with 55 tackles.
Becoming a Special Teams Leader (2009-2011)
In 2009, the Broncos changed their defense. Woodyard became a backup inside linebacker. His teammates chose him as the special teams captain for the 2009 season. He made his first NFL interception against the Cincinnati Bengals.
In 2010, Woodyard continued as a backup. He made his first NFL sack against the San Diego Chargers.
In 2011, Woodyard signed a new contract with the Broncos. He was voted special teams captain for the third year in a row. He became a starting weakside linebacker early in the season. He had a season-high 13 tackles against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Key Player and Playoff Runs (2012-2013)
In 2012, Woodyard became the starting weakside linebacker. He had a great season, making a career-high 117 tackles. He also had 5.5 sacks and three interceptions. The Broncos made it to the playoffs that year.
In 2013, Woodyard became the starting middle linebacker. He had a season-high 15 tackles against the New England Patriots. The Broncos had a fantastic season, reaching Super Bowl XLVIII. Woodyard played in the Super Bowl, where the Broncos lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
Playing for the Tennessee Titans (2014-2019)
Joining a New Team (2014)
In 2014, Woodyard signed a four-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. He became a starting inside linebacker for the team. He made his Titans debut against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording a sack. He finished the 2014 season with 94 tackles and two interceptions.
Continued Success (2015-2018)
In 2015, Woodyard continued to be an important player. He made five sacks that season.
In 2016, he was the starting inside linebacker. He had a career-high three pass deflections in a game against the Chicago Bears.
In 2017, the Titans signed Woodyard to a contract extension. He had another excellent season, making a career-high 124 tackles and five sacks.
In 2018, Woodyard continued his strong performance. He made 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks in a game against the New England Patriots. This earned him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. He finished the season with 113 tackles.
Final Season (2019)
In 2019, Woodyard's role on the team changed as younger players stepped up. However, he still made important plays. In a game against the Los Angeles Chargers, he forced a fumble that helped the Titans win. He finished his last NFL season with 42 tackles.
NFL Career Statistics
Wesley Woodyard played 180 regular season games in his NFL career. He made 951 total tackles, 28 sacks, and had 8 interceptions. He also played in 11 playoff games.
Personal Life
Wesley Woodyard is a Christian. He is married to Veronica, and they have four children.
In 2016, Woodyard was part of a heartwarming video that went viral. Before a game, he picked up a young boy who was cheering for the Titans. Woodyard said that seeing the child touched his heart. He believes football can bring people together, no matter their background.
In 2018, Wesley Woodyard was honored by being inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.
