Charles Woodson Jr. follows father’s footsteps with college commitment
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The Michigan Wolverines received a football commitment on Friday, May 15, from the son of an all-time great Michigan man.
Charles Woodson Jr., a class of 2027 safety from Orlando, committed to join new head coach Kyle Whittingham in maize and blue.
Of course, Charles Woodson Sr. led Michigan to the 1997 national championship as a three-way player. The cornerback/receiver/punt returner became the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy.
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The elder Woodson won a Super Bowl during an 18-year career that ended with induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Rivals recruiting reporter Hayes Fawcett announced Charles Woodson Jr.’s commitment.
Woodson Jr. is a 5-foot-11, 155-pound safety at Lake Nona High. He is a three-star recruit, the 65th-ranked safety and 617th player in the nation, per Rivals Industry Rankings. Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Kentucky also extended offers to Woodson Jr.
As a junior, Woodson Jr. recorded 73 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He scored touchdowns on a punt return and an interception return.
“He’s dynamic,” head coach David Aubrey told Rivals. “He’s explosive. Has a very high football IQ. Does well, very diverse, does well in zone coverage and man coverage. What I think is the most impressive thing is how physical he is.”
The recruitment of Woodson Sr.
The elder Charles Woodson was a prized recruit out of Ross High in Fremont, Ohio. The 1994 Ohio Mr. Football and Parade All-American once scored seven touchdowns in a game as a running back.
He caused quite a stir in his home state by choosing the Wolverines. Ohio State fans never forgot the betrayal, but Woodson got the last laugh. Michigan won all three meetings against the Buckeyes during Woodson’s college career.
In fact, Woodson’s signature moment on the way to the Heisman Trophy came during a 20-14 victory over Ohio State in 1997. He returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown and intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Woodson intercepted 16 passes and was an All-American during his three-year college career. He scored three touchdowns as a receiver, rushed for two other touchdowns and scored one punt return TD.
In the NFL, Woodson played twice for the Oakland Raiders and for the Green Bay Packers, winning a Super Bowl in 2010 with Green Bay. His 65 career interceptions are tied for fifth on the NFL’s all-time list. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
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