Players

WOODYARD AT A GLANCE:
• A third-year linebacker who was named a team captain for the Broncos in 2009, just one season after joining the club as a college free agent from the University of Kentucky.
• Leads the Broncos in special-teams tackles (20) since his rookie year in 2008 and has posted at least 35 defensive tackles in each of his two seasons while appearing in all 32 games (6 starts).
• Registered 35 defensive tackles, one interception and nine special-teams stops, which tied for fourth on the team, in 16 games with Denver in 2009.
• Was the only Bronco in 2008 to rank among the top eight on the team in both defensive tackles (54 - 8th) and special-teams stops (11 - T1st) while seeing time in all 16 games (6 starts) as a rookie.
• Tied for fourth in the NFL in unassisted tackles (36) according to press box totals during a fiveweek stretch midway through the 2008 season when he logged the first starts of his NFL career.
• Earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors during each of his final two seasons at Kentucky, where he started 42 career games and had three 100-tackle campaigns.
• Entered the NFL with Denver as a college free agent on April 28, 2008.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by Denver as a college free agent 4/28/08.

2009: Woodyard, a team captain, played all 16 games (0 starts) for the Broncos and had 35 tackles (25 solo), one interception, two pass breakups and one forced fumble... Tied for fourth on the team with nine special-teams tackles... Made his first career interception at Cin. (9/13)... Placed second on the club with seven tackles (6 solo) vs. Pit. (11/9)... Had three special-teams tackles at K.C. (12/6).

2008: Woodyard, who entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent on April 28, played all 16 games (6 starts) as a rookie and ranked eighth on Denver with 54 tackles (47 solo) while adding one pass breakup and one forced fumble... Tied for the team lead with 11 special-teams tackles, including eight stops on kickoff coverage that tied for the club best... Was the only Bronco to rank among the top eight on the team in both defensive tackles and special-teams stops... Tied for fourth in the league in unassisted tackles (36) according to press box totals during a stretch from Weeks 10-14 when he logged the first five starts of his NFL career... Had three 10-tackle games, including a season-best 13 stops at NYJ (11/30)... Played on special teams only in Denver’s first eight contests before moving into a starting role due to injuries at the linebacker position... Also saw time at safety late in the year.

COLLEGE: Woodyard earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors during each of his final two seasons at the University of Kentucky, where he played 47 career games (42 starts) and led the Wildcats in tackles during each of his last three years... Concluded his collegiate career ranked eighth in UK history with 395 tackles (259 solo) while adding 6.5 sacks (48 yds.), two interceptions, 12 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries... Led the SEC in tackles per game (10.6) and tied for 14th in the nation with 139 total stops as a senior... Posted 122 tackles as a junior that represented the second-highest total in the SEC and ranked 14th in the nation... Garnered honorable mention All-SEC accolades as a sophomore with 100 tackles (75 solo)... Began his collegiate career as a strong safety before switching to linebacker midway through his freshman season... Earned freshman all-conference honors and became the first-ever UK freshman to serve as a team captain.

PERSONAL: Woodyard was named the Georgia Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after posting 125 tackles as a senior at LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Ga.... Helped his team post a 51-3 combined record during his prep career and win two state championships... Was a high school and college teammate of linebacker Braxton Kelley, whom the Broncos signed as a college free agent in 2009... Earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Kentucky... Wesley Woodyard was born on July 21, 1986, in LaGrange, Ga.