“I think a lot of people in my position probably wouldn’t have done half of the things that I did … just based on everything that I had to come back from.”
Sept. 21, 2019. Just another day for most people, but for Jaiden Woodbey, it was the day the light of his bright future nearly switched off. In the consuming darkness, Woodbey built his character while rebuilding his body. And now, the Boston College safety is ready to stand under the brightest lights of his career.
Boston College Safety Jaiden Woodbey Shedding ‘Tweener’ Label
As a true sophomore for Florida State, Woodbey suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his left knee. The injury was difficult enough, but at the end of the season, the Seminoles fired head coach Willie Taggart (who recruited Woodbey) and his staff.
Entering the 2020 season, Woodbey was coming off a season-ending injury, had a new head coach, defensive coordinator, and position coach, and was moving from linebacker to safety. Oh, and a pandemic termed COVID upended the world as we knew it. But Woodbey never wavered — a trait that’s been tested his entire life.
In an exclusive interview with Pro Football Network, Woodbey stated, “I switched from linebacker to safety that year, and I was coming from an injury, and I had to prove myself to a new coach. So, you know, I feel like with all of those aspects, I did everything that I needed to do.”
Still, with his bachelor’s degree already in hand, Woodbey decided it was time for a fresh start. He met with nearly every member of the program face to face to discuss his intentions and ultimately entered the transfer portal.
Despite offers from “bigger” schools, Woodbey’s journey led him to Jeff Hafley’s squad in Massachusetts. And his reasoning for the intra-conference move was simple:
“I knew that being under an NFL coach [Hafley], Coach Tem [Lukabu], who’s the linebacker coach for the Panthers now, my position coach [Matt Thurin], who came from Ohio State as well, you know, just being around those guys — just so smart — and their scheme, and their football knowledge has helped me grow as an individual.”
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Safety Class
The feeling was mutual, with Halfey singing Woodbey’s praises heading into his first season with the program, “He’s a home run as a human being. A ton of leadership, works as hard as anybody on the team, and he’s a true pro. I’m just very grateful that he’s here.”
After multiple position switches at FSU, Woodbey was able to settle into a versatile safety role at BC. Over the last two years, he’s played 600+ snaps in the box, 200+ at deep safety, and 200+ in the slot.
Heck, he even logged 150+ along the defensive line. But some view that snap count as a player without a home. In other words, a “tweener.”
The term isn’t new to Woodbey, who’s heard it since his true freshman season at Florida State (in which he played with a torn labrum the entire year, might I add). Joining the program as a five-star safety recruit (his primary position in his last two years of high school), Woodbey wanted to see the field.
The clearest path to being a starter in Year 1? Lining up in FSU’s “STAR” position — a hybrid safety role that would most closely resemble an outside linebacker in base 4-3 looks. And so began Woodbey’s war with labels.
“I don’t consider myself a tweener at all. Tweeners, they don’t fit in. Whatever team drafts me, I’m gonna fit in perfectly — I’m a versatile player. I can play safety, I can play linebacker. So, you know, like that’s one of the things that I made sure I proved at the East-West Shrine.”
Northbound at the East-West Shrine Bowl
With five collegiate years as a starter under his belt — as well as two master’s degrees from BC –, Woodbey decided it was time to make his childhood dream a reality. The pre-draft circuit is where many prospects secure their generational money, and after two semi-quiet yet impactful seasons with Boston College, Woodbey understood its importance.
So, when the East-West Shrine Bowl came knocking, he jumped at the opportunity to showcase his talent against top-notch competition and in front of an NFL coaching staff. And as a member of the West team, Woodbey was under the tutelage of the New England Patriots staff. Who better to help him transition to middle linebacker for the first time in his career?
MORE: Fallout From the 2023 Shrine Bowl
“It was definitely a life-changing; I enjoyed it a lot. It was definitely different because I was the only guy in the room that came from a different position room — me playing safety the majority of my time, and then me going to full-on inside linebacker. … I think that was a major advantage because I’m showing people I can play this position very well too. The whole experience was fun and especially being with the Patriots staff.
“They’re one of the more interesting staffs in the country in the sense of how smart everybody is and how meticulously detailed everybody is, too. I was with coach [Bill] Belichick, his son [Steve Belichick], and coach [Jerod] Mayo. They just have so much knowledge, and everything they were telling us about, telling me about which was something that I’ll never forget.”
Why Boston College Safety Jaiden Woodbey Is a Name To Know in the 2023 NFL Draft
If it isn’t clear already, Woodbey is one of the most versatile defenders in the 2023 NFL Draft — both on and off the field. (Seriously, he’s a Renaissance man, with realtor and insurance licenses being the tip of the iceberg that is Jaiden Woodbey, the person, who our very own Oliver Hodgkinson got to explore deeper.)
His ability to fill multiple positions in one series is invaluable for a defense, allowing them to keep the same personnel on the field while still matching the offense. At his maximum potential, Woodbey can line up against a tight end/running back in empty sets, move inside the box to fit the run, and then kick out to the slot all within three plays. Yet, there are two positions Woodbey feels most comfortable in: strong safety and outside linebacker.
“I feel like those positions really are interchangeable, especially depending on what team you go to. Some teams, they’re strong safety is just a pure safety. They’re strong safety can be that linebacker hybrid. And then some teams, that strong safety is essentially like another corner/nickel.”
Woodbey was snubbed from the 2023 NFL Combine, but he still expects to run in the 4.5s at his pro day, putting to rest concerns about his speed in the secondary.
Toward the end of his interview with Pro Football Network, he went on an impassioned soliloquy, describing his film study habits and the near-instant mental processing that takes place on the field. I’d include the full transcript, but I care about the well-being of our editors.
Woodbey’s defensive versatility is his most sought-after trait, but his close second is likely what will see him selected higher than many project. With over 500 snaps on special teams (primarily kick coverage, punt coverage, and field-goal block), Woodbey is an ace in the NFL’s least-talked-about but still important phase.
“Special teams is a third of the game. I hate when people think that they’re too big to do things of that nature. … If you don’t bring any other versatility besides your position, you’re on a shorter leash than everybody else because what other value can you add? And that’s one thing I take pride in; I can give you value at multiple positions on the back end and be a starter right when I get into the NFL, and I can do the same thing for special teams.”
Still not sold? Just watch Woodbey hawk down current Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown from the opposite hash back in high school.