University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
From The Desert To The Bluff
Dec 12, 2016 | Football
Woodard's cross-country move pays dividends for him, Tigers.
*NOTE: This feature story on Tigers freshman offensive lineman Dustin Woodard first appeared in the Oct. 29 Memphis Football GameDay Program vs. Tulsa.
When you're the top-rated offensive lineman in the state as a senior, multiple college football offers come pouring in. Among those many offers are ones from the top in-state schools, along with other powerhouse regional programs within a few hours of home. It's another animal when offers come from across the country, and of those, accept one that is nearly 1,500 miles from home.
That's the decision that freshman Dustin Woodard made when the Chandler, Ariz., native chose to attend the University of Memphis.
Woodard is the only Tiger from the Grand Canyon State. In fact, only four teammates are from destinations farther away than Woodard's hometown, including one from Australia.
Despite the distance between his hometown and the Bluff City, Woodard was immediately sold on the University of Memphis because of two words: fit and family.
"I chose Memphis, first and foremost, because Coach (Mike) Norvell was emphasizing fit and family, and that's what I really wanted coming a long way to attend school," said Woodard. "I really wanted to feel like I was at home. I really wanted to fit in with everybody else."
Not only does Coach Norvell preach fit and family to his players, he has instilled into his coaching staff.
"That's our motto, not only as a team, but for the offensive unit and offensive line," said offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield. "We have to communicate like a family, and we have to be on the same page. We treat each other like we're our own little family."
Now that Woodard has been in Memphis a few months, the words fit and family have never been truer. Along with buying into Norvell's core values, Woodard's hard work has earned him a starting spot at left guard on the offensive line.
This year, the Tigers have multiple freshmen, including Woodard, in starting roles. Last year, Memphis had one freshman that started. That one was Drew Kyser, the young man who lines up just to Woodard's right as the Tigers' two-year starting center.
Although it struggled in the early portion of the season, the offensive line has started to jell of late. In recent games, the Tigers offense has had some explosive plays, and a huge reason is the big-time play up front by the offensive line.
A reason for the offensive line's solid performances of late is communication. According to Silverfield, communication and the ability to work together as one unit are valuable assets for any offensive line. Having a teammate like Kyser, who has been in Woodard's shoes, can only mean good things for the future of the Tigers offensive line.
What separates Woodard and makes him an even more valuable asset is the work that he puts in the classroom. If given the opportunity, he wants to pursue football at the next level. But, Woodard also understands that there is so much more in life than the game he now plays. Woodard, a nursing major, has full expectations of graduating with his degree no matter what.
"Academics by far are the most important thing to me," added Woodard. "I think it's self-explanatory. A degree will lead you in life, whereas football is temporary. That's why academics are very important."
Silverfield agreed, "Dustin was a fantastic academic student in high school, and we knew that would carry over when he came to school here. He's striving for excellence in the classroom and earning scholar awards, which is great to see.
"That desire for excellence carries over with his film study, his preparation and what he does on the field. I think that the more you put into it, the more you'll be able to produce."
Daily improvement is what Silverfield has come to expect from his starting left guard. Extra time spent watching film along with taking time to ask questions have left an impression on Silverfield.
"Dustin's done everything he can, and it's nice to see a true freshman do that," said Silverfield. "Those are the type of young men you want to be around because he's only going to get better."
Student-athletes like Woodard are scattered all throughout the country, and the Tigers hit the jackpot with this offensive lineman from a town in central Arizona.
"We'll go wherever we can to find the right type of student-athlete," added Silverfield. "If we can find others like Dustin Woodard in the world, whether it's in Arizona or Alaska, let's go find them."
When you're the top-rated offensive lineman in the state as a senior, multiple college football offers come pouring in. Among those many offers are ones from the top in-state schools, along with other powerhouse regional programs within a few hours of home. It's another animal when offers come from across the country, and of those, accept one that is nearly 1,500 miles from home.
That's the decision that freshman Dustin Woodard made when the Chandler, Ariz., native chose to attend the University of Memphis.
Woodard is the only Tiger from the Grand Canyon State. In fact, only four teammates are from destinations farther away than Woodard's hometown, including one from Australia.
Despite the distance between his hometown and the Bluff City, Woodard was immediately sold on the University of Memphis because of two words: fit and family.
"I chose Memphis, first and foremost, because Coach (Mike) Norvell was emphasizing fit and family, and that's what I really wanted coming a long way to attend school," said Woodard. "I really wanted to feel like I was at home. I really wanted to fit in with everybody else."
Not only does Coach Norvell preach fit and family to his players, he has instilled into his coaching staff.
"That's our motto, not only as a team, but for the offensive unit and offensive line," said offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield. "We have to communicate like a family, and we have to be on the same page. We treat each other like we're our own little family."
Now that Woodard has been in Memphis a few months, the words fit and family have never been truer. Along with buying into Norvell's core values, Woodard's hard work has earned him a starting spot at left guard on the offensive line.
This year, the Tigers have multiple freshmen, including Woodard, in starting roles. Last year, Memphis had one freshman that started. That one was Drew Kyser, the young man who lines up just to Woodard's right as the Tigers' two-year starting center.
Although it struggled in the early portion of the season, the offensive line has started to jell of late. In recent games, the Tigers offense has had some explosive plays, and a huge reason is the big-time play up front by the offensive line.
A reason for the offensive line's solid performances of late is communication. According to Silverfield, communication and the ability to work together as one unit are valuable assets for any offensive line. Having a teammate like Kyser, who has been in Woodard's shoes, can only mean good things for the future of the Tigers offensive line.
What separates Woodard and makes him an even more valuable asset is the work that he puts in the classroom. If given the opportunity, he wants to pursue football at the next level. But, Woodard also understands that there is so much more in life than the game he now plays. Woodard, a nursing major, has full expectations of graduating with his degree no matter what.
"Academics by far are the most important thing to me," added Woodard. "I think it's self-explanatory. A degree will lead you in life, whereas football is temporary. That's why academics are very important."
Silverfield agreed, "Dustin was a fantastic academic student in high school, and we knew that would carry over when he came to school here. He's striving for excellence in the classroom and earning scholar awards, which is great to see.
"That desire for excellence carries over with his film study, his preparation and what he does on the field. I think that the more you put into it, the more you'll be able to produce."
Daily improvement is what Silverfield has come to expect from his starting left guard. Extra time spent watching film along with taking time to ask questions have left an impression on Silverfield.
"Dustin's done everything he can, and it's nice to see a true freshman do that," said Silverfield. "Those are the type of young men you want to be around because he's only going to get better."
Student-athletes like Woodard are scattered all throughout the country, and the Tigers hit the jackpot with this offensive lineman from a town in central Arizona.
"We'll go wherever we can to find the right type of student-athlete," added Silverfield. "If we can find others like Dustin Woodard in the world, whether it's in Arizona or Alaska, let's go find them."
Players Mentioned
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