Jaiden

Woodbey

Seminoles HC Willie Taggart said during spring ball that Woodbey was “further ahead than most would be” in his recovery from an offseason shoulder procedure (he played through injury for most of the 2018 campaign). The expectation is that the 6-foot-2, 196-pound sophomore will be healthy and ready to roll come the start of August camp. While FSU was a lost mess of a team last season, Woodbey played as advertised after signing on with the program as a five-star recruit, registering 59 tackles (4.5 for loss), seven passes defensed and a fumble forced across 12 games played. ESPN named him a Freshman All-American at the close of the campaign. We’re excited to see what he does in his encore.

And just like that, the Buckeyes jump out to the lead for Woodbey’s commitment. “They have been my parent’s favorite school and they have produced NFL players in every spot,” said the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder. He plans on committing to points unknown on January 20 -- his birthday. Rivals recruiting analyst Adam Gorney doesn’t see his interest in Ohio State as a passing fancy, writing, “The Buckeyes should remain an absolutely serious contender for the next six months or so until Woodbey is prepared to make his decision if that date sticks for his commitment.”

Woodbey had been holding out hope for an offer from Florida State, but that has yet to materialize. “It’s still pretty quiet. It’s just come to a point where I’ve been waiting too long for it,” Woodbey said. The 6-foot-2, 197-pounder ranks as Rivals’ No. 45 overall prospect for the 2018 cycle. Over the summer, outlet recruiting analyst Adam Gorney called Ohio State “an absolutely serious contender” for Woodbey’s commitment.

Woodbey announced his Buckeyes pledge via Twitter. He had also been considering Oklahoma, USC and Nebraska. Rivals ranks the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder as the No. 45 overall prospect in the 2018 class, while he climbs all the way to No. 28 on the ESPN Jr. 300. The Worldwide Leader notes that Woodbey "[p]ossesses solid instincts and the discipline to be patient” and "[p]lays with good leverage [while] tak[ing] the best angles to the football.” As for what position he might play in Columbus, ESPN views his best fit coming at safety.

While Woodbey does not appear to be closing off his recruitment completely, he remains solidly in Ohio State’s corner. The 6-foot-2, 197-pounder told Rivals that he “feel[s] like when I get there I will be able to make an impact as soon as I get there. My DB play is similar to what they want. I can be a big corner or be a big safety.” He lands at No. 61 overall on the outlet’s master list.

Woodbey remains locked into his commitment to Ohio State, but has been open exploring other options. He is planning to take an official visit to Oklahoma and also hopes to check out Texas A&M. The Sooners visit is of particular interest, here. Rather than be scared off by the retirement of OU HC Bob Stoops, the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder said, “I feel like Riley could make a really big impact. He’s been there for a minute and I feel like a younger head at the top of the system will give Oklahoma a little spark.” While Stoops’ retirement figures to cause some prospects to reconsider their interest in the Sooners, the inverse will be true in some cases, too, as evidenced by Woodbey’s intrigue in what Riley might bring to the table.

Woodbey (6'2/197) is also tentatively planning on taking another visit to Ohio State when they take on Penn State next month. While he has kicked around potential visits to other programs, the longtime OSU pledge -- he committed back in February -- does not have anything currently set up on that front. USC could play spoiler, here, but there have been no indications that Rivals’ No. 35 overall prospect for 2018 is planning on jumping ship.

Gorney forwards that USC, Nebraska and Oklahoma could potentially receive visits from Woodbey (6'2/197) down the road, but that his behavior at The Opening was very much that of a player who plans on inking up with OSU in the winter. Woodbey was openly recruiting other prospects while in Beaverton and in particular has been trying to sway CB Anthony Cook (Rivals No. 9 overall prospect for 2018) and DE K.J. Henry (No. 15 overall) over to the Buckeyes’ cause. For his part, Woodbey ranks as the outlet’s No. 51 overall player in the 2018 class.

Not the best of news for USC, Nebraska and Oklahoma, who have been trying to pry Woodbey from his pledge. Rivals’ No. 51 overall prospect for the 2018 cycle, Woodbey (6'2/197) is an instinctual, disciplined performer at safety, where ESPN believes he will ultimately settle as he embarks on his collegiate career.

“That kid, he’s come here and he’s done everything he told me he was going to do,” Taggart said, later adding that the 6-foot-2, 196-pound Woodbey was “not backing down to anyone” during the spring and was “one of those guys you’ve got to tell him to slow down and stop.” The Seminoles head coach additionally praised the freshman’s almost immediate acclimation into the locker room, his nose for the classroom and the general aura he brings to campus. Woodbey -- a five-star recruit in the most recent class -- flipped over to Florida State from Ohio State in December, helping to ease Taggart’s transition as Jimbo Fisher’s replacement in the process.