Craig Woodson Interview: 'I Do My Best Work Around The LOS'

California Golden Bears defensive back Craig Woodson is among the most experienced secondary defenders in college football. An underrated prospect, Woodson produced 156 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 6.5 tackles for loss, and three interceptions across 2022 and 2023. Those performances landed him on the Senior Bowl watchlist, and he's already been productive throughout 2024 as well.

Woodson recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network. Woodson discussed his decision to return to Cal for his super senior season, what’s kept him loyal to the program, playing in coverage and around the line of scrimmage, and more.

JM: What made you decide to return to Cal for your super senior season? You contemplated entering last year’s NFL draft.

Craig Woodson: It was an extremely difficult decision. I had to take time away and weigh how my season went last year. I felt like I left a few opportunities out there. I had more I wanted to accomplish.

There were a lot of plays to be made at Cal. I decided to come back and put together an even better showcase for myself. I decided to come back because I wanted to get better. I knew the program was moving in different directions, but I still felt like I had more to contribute. That’s why I decided to come back. I wanted to make sure I left on my terms.

JM: In a college football world that is being dominated by NIL and the transfer portal, what has kept you loyal to Cal for six seasons?

Craig Woodson: I have an excellent relationship with this program. The people here are very unique. I’ve built some special relationships here. It’s really like a brotherhood. This coaching staff feels like family to me.

Defensive backs coach Tre Watson is family to me. I have amazing relationships with my teammates as well. This is a real brotherhood. I just wasn’t ready to leave my family. It felt right to stick out for one more year.

JM: You recorded 156 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 6.5 tackles for loss, and three interceptions across 2022 and 2023. You’re off to a great start this season as well, with 31 tackles and three PBUs. Do you feel like you do your best work in coverage, or around the line of scrimmage? You’ve displayed a well-balanced skill set.

Craig Woodson: Honestly, I think I do my best work around the line of scrimmage. I love tackling. I think that’s probably the best aspect of my game. I like to clean up stuff inside the box. 

Whenever I get those chances to make open-field tackles, I always take advantage of my opportunity to get somebody on the ground. That’s what I love most about playing football. I would definitely say I do my best work around the line of scrimmage.

JM: We love that. You appear on this year’s Senior Bowl watchlist. What would getting an invite to Mobile mean to you?

Craig Woodson: It would be an amazing honor. It’s a blessing to even be acknowledged as a player on their watchlist. It would be really cool to get that invite to compete in Mobile. If I do get invited, I would have to take advantage of that opportunity by displaying my skill set.

I feel like there’s a lot of aspects of my game that are being underrated, especially when it comes to playing in coverage. I would welcome those one-on-one reps in Mobile to prove I can cover. I would definitely prove that at the Senior Bowl.

JM: As a guy who hails from Texas, by the way, there must have been some culture shock when you first moved to California.

Craig Woodson: It was definitely different. The food, the environment, the people, every aspect of it was different. Being here at Cal for as long as I’ve been here now, I’ve definitely acclimated to the people and to the atmosphere.

I definitely miss Texas though (laughs). I won’t lie to you, I miss Texas when I’m away from home. At the end of the day, I’m very blessed for the opportunity that the California Golden Bears gave me to pursue my dream.

JM: We’ve appreciated your time today. What are Craig Woodson’s goals for the remainder of this season?

Craig Woodson: My goal is to close out this season strong. I want to play as well as I possibly can down the stretch. I really just want to display the full range of my capabilities. I need to do a better job getting my hands on the ball. That’s definitely a goal of mine, to create more takeaways.

Ultimately, we’re trying to win out at Cal. That’s really the goal, to win out.