University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Woodard Drafted by New England Patriots
Apr 25, 2020 | Football
Tigers have three players drafted for the first time since 2001.
MEMPHIS – Dustin Woodard was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Saturday, with the 230th overall pick. He becomes the first Memphis offensive lineman to be drafted since Wade Smith was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2003 draft.
Woodard appeared in every game during his career at Memphis. After playing in, but not starting, the first two games of his true freshman season, he started 52 consecutive games, including three AAC Championship games and four bowl games, ending with Memphis' Goodyear Cotton Bowl in 2019.
A native of Chandler, Arizona, Woodard was a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree as a senior and was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy. He was also a finalist for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award.
As a freshman, Woodard appeared in all 13 games and was named a 247Sports.com True Freshman All-America honoree. As a sophomore, Woodard again appeared in all 13 games, playing at left guard. He moved to right guard as a junior, earning all-conference honors.
He moved to center in 2019, anchoring a Tiger offense that rushed for 2,614 yards (186.7/game) and passed for 4,177 yards (298.4/game).
With Woodard in the trenches, Memphis' offenses have been some of the best in program history. The four teams are all in the top five in school history and amassed more than 27,000 yards. He has blocked for multiple All-Americans in his time at Memphis, including Darrell Henderson (Los Angeles Rams) in 2018, Anthony Miller (Chicago Bears) in 2017 and FWAA Freshman of the Year Kenneth Gainwell in 2019.
Woodard is the third Tiger to be drafted by the Patriots, following place-kicker Stephen Gostkowski (2006, 4thround) and defensive back Judson Flint (1979, 7th round).
His selection gives Memphis multiple draftees for a third straight season and marks the first time since 2001 that Memphis has had three players drafted (DB Idrees Bashir, DB Michael Stone, NT Marcus Bell).
2020 Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Redskins, Third Round, Pick 66
2020 Chris Claybrooks, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seventh Round, Pick 223
2020 Dustin Woodard, C/OL, New England Patriots, Seventh Round, Pick 230
2019 Darrell Henderson, RB, Los Angeles Rams, Third Round, Pick 70
2019 Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys, Fourth Round, Pick 128
2018 Anthony Miller, WR, Chicago Bears, Second Round, Pick 51
2018 Genard Avery, LB, Cleveland Browns, Fifth Round, Pick 150
2017 Jake Elliott, Place-Kicker, Cincinnati Bengals, Fifth Round, Pick 118
2016 Paxton Lynch, Quarterback, Denver Broncos, First Round, Pick 22
2015 Bobby McCain, Cornerback, Miami Dolphins, Fifth Round, Pick 145
2015 Martin Ifedi, Defensive End, St. Louis Rams, Seventh Round, Pick 227
2014 Lonnie Ballentine, Defensive Back, Houston Texas, Pick 256
Woodard appeared in every game during his career at Memphis. After playing in, but not starting, the first two games of his true freshman season, he started 52 consecutive games, including three AAC Championship games and four bowl games, ending with Memphis' Goodyear Cotton Bowl in 2019.
A native of Chandler, Arizona, Woodard was a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree as a senior and was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy. He was also a finalist for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award.
As a freshman, Woodard appeared in all 13 games and was named a 247Sports.com True Freshman All-America honoree. As a sophomore, Woodard again appeared in all 13 games, playing at left guard. He moved to right guard as a junior, earning all-conference honors.
He moved to center in 2019, anchoring a Tiger offense that rushed for 2,614 yards (186.7/game) and passed for 4,177 yards (298.4/game).
With Woodard in the trenches, Memphis' offenses have been some of the best in program history. The four teams are all in the top five in school history and amassed more than 27,000 yards. He has blocked for multiple All-Americans in his time at Memphis, including Darrell Henderson (Los Angeles Rams) in 2018, Anthony Miller (Chicago Bears) in 2017 and FWAA Freshman of the Year Kenneth Gainwell in 2019.
Woodard is the third Tiger to be drafted by the Patriots, following place-kicker Stephen Gostkowski (2006, 4thround) and defensive back Judson Flint (1979, 7th round).
His selection gives Memphis multiple draftees for a third straight season and marks the first time since 2001 that Memphis has had three players drafted (DB Idrees Bashir, DB Michael Stone, NT Marcus Bell).
2020 Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Redskins, Third Round, Pick 66
2020 Chris Claybrooks, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seventh Round, Pick 223
2020 Dustin Woodard, C/OL, New England Patriots, Seventh Round, Pick 230
2019 Darrell Henderson, RB, Los Angeles Rams, Third Round, Pick 70
2019 Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys, Fourth Round, Pick 128
2018 Anthony Miller, WR, Chicago Bears, Second Round, Pick 51
2018 Genard Avery, LB, Cleveland Browns, Fifth Round, Pick 150
2017 Jake Elliott, Place-Kicker, Cincinnati Bengals, Fifth Round, Pick 118
2016 Paxton Lynch, Quarterback, Denver Broncos, First Round, Pick 22
2015 Bobby McCain, Cornerback, Miami Dolphins, Fifth Round, Pick 145
2015 Martin Ifedi, Defensive End, St. Louis Rams, Seventh Round, Pick 227
2014 Lonnie Ballentine, Defensive Back, Houston Texas, Pick 256
Players Mentioned
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OL
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