Junior safety J’Marick Woods has entered the transfer portal. He’s listed at 6’3″, 203 lbs. and has played in four games so far this season.
Woods signed with Michigan in the class of 2017, and I gave him a TTB Rating of 78 (LINK). He made 26 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss while playing over parts of three seasons, including one start in the Outback Bowl following the 2017 season.
Hit the jump for more.
Woods was a bit of an odd fit for Don Brown’s safety position on defense. Since both safeties have to be interchangeable and play coverage, a guy like Woods doesn’t make a ton of sense. As a taller guy without great speed and change-of-direction skills, the options for him are limited; Michigan’s primary safeties have been in the 6’0″ range. There were rumors of him potentially sliding into the Viper position once Khaleke Hudson graduates. As this 2019 season has worn on, freshman safety Daxton Hill has earned more and more playing time, partially at the expense of Woods.
The 2017 class is slowly dissipating, as Woods joins Auburey Solomon (Tennessee), Ja’Raymond Hall (Central Michigan), Deron Irving-Bey (CMU), Kurt Taylor (Iowa Central Community College), Drew Singleton (Rutgers), Oliver Martin (Iowa), James Hudson (Cincinnati), and Benjamin St-Juste as transfers, while Corey Malone-Hatcher (medical issues) and O’Maury Samuels (legal issues) have also left the program. Only 19 of the 30 signees remain on the roster.
You need to login in order to vote
Do you think he could have been a good Viper? I have read that it was his optimal position; however, he just wanted to play safety and didn’t want to move.
You need to login in order to vote
He would need to put on some weight. I think his style of play could have held up, but he needed to get bigger. If you’re playing as a SAM ‘backer and taking on blocks like Peppers/Hudson have had to do, you can’t survive at 6’3″ and 203 lbs.
You need to login in order to vote