4-star EDGE Jayden Woods signs with Florida

On Wednesday, 4-star EDGE Jayden Woods of Shawnee (Kans.) Mill Valley signed with the Florida Gators during the first day of the Early Signing Period. Here is everything you need to know about him.

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Position: EDGE
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3/235 pounds
On3 Industry Rankings: No. 116 prospect | No. 14 EDGE | No. 4 prospect in Kansas
Commitment date: 11/29/24
Chose Florida over: Penn State
Time of enrollment: January
2024 Stats: 90 tackles (44 solo), 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception
Woods says: “What I know as of right now is of course Tim Tebow and just the legacy of the place. Also, by just catching games, their guys always play hard and aggressive. (Outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson) sees me fitting into that JACK role they have there.”
Notable: Florida flipped Woods from Penn State following a surprise official visit for the Ole Miss game.
Social Media: X (atm_jayden); Instagram (jayden_woods5)

What the Gators are getting in Jayden Woods

Whether it’s dipping his shoulder to get underneath his opponent or quickly shedding offensive lineman, Woods shows explosiveness as a pass rusher. He is a headache to contain and does a good job of making quarterbacks feel uncomfortable. Honestly, when watching his film, I’m surprised he’s not ranked higher. He is a natural when exploding through the line and makes his living in the offensive backfield. His active and strong hands definitely stand out too. Pass rushing is what Woods does best. He closes ground quickly.

Even if it’s not a passing down, Woods is consistently flying around the field. He has an impressive motor and rarely takes plays off. It’s difficult locating another prospect on the field who matches his energy level. When you combine that motor with his technique, you have the makings of a national talent at the EDGE position. Woods is relentless while in pursuit and also creates opportunities for teammates when flushing opponents out of the pocket.

I’m also impressed with Woods’ ability to play under control. He processes things quickly and does a good job of keeping his eyes forward to track what’s in front of him. You would think that could be a struggle due to how explosive he is, but Woods is consistent with not putting himself out of position. When a quarterback is rolling out for a pass, he does a good job of staying on his toes incase he has to get vertical to deflect a pass or change direction. He is light on his feet and adjusts accordingly.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is Woods’ competition level. There are many offensive linemen he simply looks bigger than and is obviously more talented than. That could limit his effectiveness against SEC talent, especially early on, but that is the case for a lot of prospects. He could also utilize some more go-to moves. He is effective when stacking and shedding along with dipping his shoulder around the edge, but having more tools in the tool bag at the next level will keep offensive linemen guessing.

There is some positional versatility with Woods. He projects best as an EDGE prospect but also plays inside linebacker and possesses the mobility, size and instincts to get reps there in college. He curerntly checks in at roughly 6-foot-3, 240 pounds. Some scouts feel as if he could eventually transition into a more traditional defensive lineman as well. That’s especially the case once entering a college strength and conditioning program. It will be fun to track his career regardless. There is plenty of long-term potential here. – GO’s Corey Bender