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Mississippi State

2024 Mississippi State commit Tyler Woodard adjusting to new role in secondary

Paul Jones Mississippi State Bulldogsby: Paul Jones10/16/23PaulJonesOn3
Tyler Woodard
Tyler Woodard

2024 Mississippi State commitment Tyler Woodard had to play different roles during his career in the Memphis prep ranks. After taking the juco route, however, the On3 three-star prospect had settled in at safety and was getting more experience at just one spot.

But due to team circumstances, the 6-foot-2 and 186-pound Woodard had to dip back into his versatile bag a couple of weeks ago for East Mississippi Community College.

“The season started off well and I was just at free safety,” recalled Woodard. “But then we had a cornerback leave the team so they had to switch me to corner. I started there in our third game and I’ve been playing it since. I did do that in high school but it took a bit to get used to it again.”

Before that move, Woodard felt good about the strides he was making on the back end of the defense.

“I think I have really improved my technique and that’s a lot better,” Woodard added. “I am a lot more physical this year and I’m getting in and out of my breaks better. I was mainly just at free safety but sometimes I went down to boundry safety if they needed me there.”

Woodard is rated as the nation’s No. 1 juco safety and the nation’s No. 5 overall juco prospect by On3. He committed to Mississippi State during the summer period and was back on campus last month for a game-day experience at Davis Wade Stadium.

“I was there for the LSU game,” Woodard mentioned. “It love the atmosphere and I am just ready to get there. I talked to the whole staff before the game, Coach (Zach) Arnett, Coach Brett (Dewhurst), Coach Rod (Gibson) and all of them. They told me to keep my grades up and to keep grinding. They told me to be ready from the jump.

“I really like the relationship I have with Coach Brett. I can call him to talk about anything and he is always there for me.”

Since making that Bulldog decision in July, Woodard has experienced a quiet recruitment. He is scheduled to graduate in December and also officially visit State during that month.

“There are still some teams hitting me up on Twitter,” noted Woodard. “But it hasn’t been too much recruiting-wise. I am solid with my decision and I tell other teams I am locked in with State. I am going to take my official visit there after the season and that’s the only one I plan to take.”

Awaiting Woodard in Starkville will be an opportunity to impact the secondary sooner than later. State will lose a pair of senior safeties – Marcus Banks and Shawn Preston – after the 2023 season so there will be plenty of reps to earn for Woodard and other newcomers.

“It’s a good opportunity to play against SEC teams and start off with a big impact,” mentioned Woodard. “The coaches are not sure exactly which spot I will play because I can play wherever. It will probably be free safety but it could be boundry safety because I am like a big corner.”

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