Woodby is ‘going to be special’

AUBURN | Malcolm Simmons knows all about standing out as a true freshman.

He was Auburn’s second-leading receiver last season with 40 catches for 451 yards and three touchdowns. This spring, it was a freshman on the other side of the ball that stood out to Simmons.

He singled-out Blake Woodby as one of the toughest cornerbacks to go against.

“Like I told him, just because you’re a freshman, that doesn’t mean nothing. If you can ball, you can ball,” said Simmons. “Him coming out there with that attitude and with the drive, he separates himself from everybody else.

“Every rep you’re up there, he’s trying to not let you catch the ball. Just like me, when I go out there, I’m trying to catch the ball every time. So with that guy, he’s going to be special, most definitely.”

Woodby enrolled at Auburn in January and quickly got to work with winter workouts and team meetings. His coaches and teammates were impressed with his veteran approach.

“He’s like a sponge now. He picks up everything,” said defensive back coach Wesley McGriff. “He’s a pro in the meeting room, takes great notes. He’s one of those guys who will call you at night, ‘Coach, I’m looking at tape and I see this.’ So I’m really excited to watch his continued development.”

Junior cornerback Raion Strader also described Woodby as a sponge.

“For how young he is, you wouldn’t think a kid would want to be able to grasp and learn so much information that fast,” said Strader. “But I seen his attitude when he first walked in. He’s going to be really good in a couple years, if not this year. I think he’s going to be one of them players.”

Auburn opens the season Aug. 29 at Baylor. The game is scheduled for Friday night at 7 p.m. CT on FOX.