Alabama transfer DB Peyton Woodyard commits to Oregon

Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Peyton Woodyard has committed to join the Oregon Ducks via the NCAA transfer portal, On3 has learned.

Prior to entering the portal, Woodyard went through spring practice with the Crimson Tide after being an early enrollee, but chose to look to begin his college career elsewhere. He will have four years of eligibility remaining, and he’ll begin to use that in Eugene.

Moreover, Woodyard played high school football at Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 128 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

During his high school recruitment, Woodyard was once committed to Georgia. Woodyard decommitted and eventually gave his pledge to Alabama ahead of his senior year.

Former head coach Nick Saban was the one recruiting Woodyard, seeing him sign his National Letter of Intent back in December. The projected safety even went through bowl practices with Alabama as they prepared for the College Football Playoff semifinal vs. Michigan at the Rose Bowl.

However, Woodyard chose to explore his options once again after the coaching change in Tuscaloosa took place. He got to work with Kalen DeBoer and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack but ultimately decided on a change of scenery, and he’s now headed to Oregon.

Dan Lanning recalls interviewing at Alabama: ‘Nothing I had ever been prepared for’

Moreover, Dan Lanning was at Alabama once upon a time, though the Oregon head coach showed no interest in a return to Tuscaloosa in 2024.

But his 2015 experience as a grad assistant under Nick Saban is definitely one he’s fond of at this point. Entering his third year as Oregon’s head coach, Lanning pilots one of the best teams in college football. But interviewing at Alabama was unlike any other experience.

“Nothing that I’d ever been prepared for,” Lanning said of his interview in 2015 on Bussin’ With the Boys. “You know, I kind of assumed I’d be a fly on the wall. This is a GA job. It’s not like it’s the most important role in the building. But to sit there with Coach Saban, he’s asking you questions about your philosophy on punt protection. 

“That’s not something I had dolled up ready. You know, I had my thoughts and I shared them, but you got to meet with everybody in the organization. You know, from position coaches, to administrative staff. You know, I thought they did a really good job of being meticulous in that process, getting feedback from everybody in the building.” 

Lanning even kept a reminder of that portion of his career, nearly a decade later.

“I still got the voicemail saved on my phone today of Coach Saban calling and you know, saying, ‘Hey, give me a call back’ with him offering me the job,” Lanning said. “Not deleting that.” 

Lanning had no idea he’d be the man for the job. In the end, he got to work under Saban for a season before he took a two-year stint at Memphis.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh and Nick Kosko contributed to this article.