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 NFL Draft Prospect
Interview: Wesley Woodyard, LB, Kentucky
by Paul Eide,
4/9/08. Playing as
the weak side linebacker for the University
of Kentucky, Woodyard led the SEC in tackles in each of the last two
years and averaged 120+ tackles over his last three seasons. With his
success in both the Senior Bowl and at the NFL Combine, Woodyard has
helped himself perhaps more than any other available college prospect
heading into the Draft. His 40 time of 4.51 was the second fastest of
all linebackers and came impressively after gaining 12 pounds in the
two weeks leading up to the Combine. At the Senior Bowl, Woodyard led
his team in tackles and drew significant praise from NFL legend Mike
Singletary.
The biggest knock on Woodyard is that he isn’t big enough to play
linebacker at the next level but anyone who watched him during his
career at Kentucky can attest to his ability to play bigger and hit
harder than his size on paper would indicate. With more NFL teams
adopting the famed “Cover Two” defensive scheme, Woodyard’s talents
could be applied in a manner to that of Tampa Bay LB Cato June, who was
himself a safety in college at Michigan before converting to LB once he
was drafted. June was a sixth round pick in the 2003 draft and
Woodyard could find himself in a similar situation after the NFL Draft
just under a month from now.
After
your performance at the Senior Bowl and at the Combine, have you seen
increased interest?
“Its definitely increased, but that doesn’t make me slow down. I’m the
kind of guy who has always had to fight for what he wanted to get so
that’s the attitude I took to both places. That’s why it worked out so
well.”
Were you surprised at how well you performed, specifically your 40
time?
“I knew how well I could do but the amount of success I had once
everything happened and I saw what I could do, I had to give thanks to
God and to my family. I felt proud that I was able to turn heads. A lot
of people thought I was small and couldn’t play so I just wanted to
prove I could” |
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Your 40 time was the second fastest amongst LB’s at the Combine. Is
that a consistent time for you, or was it just a great one?
“When I first came in after the Senior Bowl I ran the 40 in 4.41 so I
can actually run a little faster than what I did at the Combine. I
gained 12 pounds in two weeks prior, thanks to a strict diet and
workout, and it really didn’t affect my speed too much.”
How did you put on that weight so fast?
“I ate a lot of pasta, a lot of healthy stuff. But you know being in
college you eat a lot of junk food, during that time I ate extremely
healthy and that was the key for putting on quality weight, not dead
weight.”
Is that 12 pounds something you could maintain and if you had to could
you gain more?
“Oh yeah. If I chose too I could put on a lot more weight, but most
coaches I talk to don’t want me to do that. I’m just trying to stay at
a solid 227 and I can gain another 10 pounds if need be.”
You came to Kentucky as a safety and got converted to LB. Was the fast
40 time a double edged sword because it put you amongst the fastest
times for safeties at the Combine? Did it promote the idea of you
playing safety in the NFL a little more?
“People tried to say I’m going to play safety because of my weight but
I played LB for four years in college and consider myself a linebacker.
If the team wants to put me at safety Ill do my best, but I prefer LB
because I’ve been playing it in the SEC and was successful. If I can
play in the SEC and do it, I’m confident I can do it in the NFL. At the
same time, I’m willing to play wherever they want me.”
Because of your speed, do you feel more comfortable in a Cover Two, or
a Man on Man scheme?
“I did a lot of man this year, but a lot of teams have been talking to
me about that, being able run down the middle of the filed with a WR is
one of my strengths. Cover Two is a natural fit but I can do whatever.”
Any guys at the Combine you saw that jumped out at you?
“Jerod Mayo. A guy that size with that speed was impressive.”
With the way the program at Kentucky improved during your career, do
you feel that adds to your value as a player?
“When I went to KU we had a big problem with losing and I was a guy who
came in and believed we could be the best team in the SEC. I came from
a winning high school and I definitely believe you have to know how to
win and I helped bring that attitude here.”
Any teams showing more interest than others?
“Been pretty general so far, but the Rams LB coach worked me out on my
Pro Day, but you never really know what to expect until the Draft.”
What’s your biggest area needing improvement?
“Obviously I’m not one of the biggest LB’s so I need to stay low and
keep blockers off of me.”
What’s your biggest strength?
“I’m a competitor and I’ll give it everything I got.”
Wesley Woodyard was named
Michael Abromowitz's #1
Favorite NFL Draft Prospect
Michael
Abromowitz's 2008 NFL
Mock
Draft
Gregory Cox's 2008
NFL Mock Draft
Paul Eide's 2008 NFL
Mock Draft
Joey Bure's 2008 NFL Mock Draft
Jared
Donnelly's 2008 NFL Mock
Draft
2009 NFL
Mock Draft
Mock
Draft Database
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