New Patriots security Craig Woodson able to hit instantly as a rookie

The Patriots chosen Cal security Craig Woodson early in Saturday’s fourth spherical of the NFL Draft, and nearly an hour later, it was straightforward to know why.
Woodson, a sixth-year senior who performed all throughout the secondary at Cal, described himself as a heady, hard-hitting participant.
“Hitting individuals is what I’ve appreciated to do since I used to be a child,” Woodson stated Saturday on a video convention with reporters. “After I first began taking part in soccer, like, simply working up, hitting any individual, smacking them, simply getting them on the bottom, that’s the whole lot I’ve liked since I used to be a child.”
Woodson additionally described an instance of his soccer intelligence serving to him on the sphere. In a midseason loss to Pitt, the six-foot, 200-pounder made a important third-down cease on a receiver who had pulled away from his defender and made a catch over the center. However having acknowledged the pre-snap movement that freed him, and the tiny break up with the adjoining tight finish, Woodson flew as much as make the deal with and power a punt.
In New England, he’ll be part of a crowded safeties room led by veterans Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers and Jaylinn Hawkins. Woodson, whose first yr at Cal was in 2019, stated he performed with Hawkins briefly in faculty.
Over his profession, he began 40 of 46 video games, recording 5 interceptions and 21 move breakups. Woodson was a backup his first two seasons, then suffered a season-ending knee harm in 2021. Since then, he developed right into a do-it-all security and captain the Patriots at the moment are hoping can play instantly.
“I don’t suppose there’s something I can’t do,” Woodson stated.