WOODYARD AT A GLANCE:
• A fifth-year linebacker who has served as a team captain the last four seasons (2009-12) and has played 73 career games (30 starts) since joining the club as a college free agent from the University of Kentucky.
• Became one of two players in franchise history (RB Floyd Little) to serve as a captain in his first five seasons with the club.
• Was the only player in the NFL in 2012 and just the 12th player in the last 30 years to record at least 100 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions in a single campaign.
• Earned his first conference Defensive Player of the Week award after becoming the ninth NFL player since sacks began to be tracked in 1982 to record at least 10 tackles, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble in a game vs. New Orleans (10/28/12).
• Became the first Broncos linebacker since Al Wilson in 2004 to record multiple interceptions in a season in 2012.
• Totaled 48 special-teams tackles since his rookie year in 2008, and has led the team in that category in three of his four NFL seasons.
• Started a career-high seven games for the Broncos in 2011 and finished second on the club with a personal-best 87 tackles (60 solo) to go along with two passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
• 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.
• Earned the Darrent Williams Good Guy Award from the Denver chapter of the PFWA in 2012 and was named the Broncos’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2010 and ‘11.
• 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.
WOODYARD AT A GLANCE:
• A fifth-year linebacker who has served as a team captain the last four seasons (2009-12) and has played 73 career games (30 starts) since joining the club as a college free agent from the University of Kentucky.
• Became one of two players in franchise history (RB Floyd Little) to serve as a captain in his first five seasons with the club.
• Was the only player in the NFL in 2012 and just the 12th player in the last 30 years to record at least 100 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions in a single campaign.
• Earned his first conference Defensive Player of the Week award after becoming the ninth NFL player since sacks began to be tracked in 1982 to record at least 10 tackles, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble in a game vs. New Orleans (10/28/12).
• Became the first Broncos linebacker since Al Wilson in 2004 to record multiple interceptions in a season in 2012.
• Totaled 48 special-teams tackles since his rookie year in 2008, and has led the team in that category in three of his four NFL seasons.
• Started a career-high seven games for the Broncos in 2011 and finished second on the club with a personal-best 87 tackles (60 solo) to go along with two passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
• 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.
• Earned the Darrent Williams Good Guy Award from the Denver chapter of the PFWA in 2012 and was named the Broncos’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2010 and ‘11.
• 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.
Woodyard’s Single-Game Highs
(Postseason in parentheses)
Tackles — 14 at Cincinnati, 11/4/12 (7 vs. Baltimore, 1/12/13). Interceptions — 1, four times, last vs. San Diego, 11/18/12 (none). Interception return yards — 25 vs. San Diego, 11/18/12 (none). Sacks — 1.5 vs. Cleveland, 12/23/12 (none). Sack yards — 12 vs. New Orleans, 10/28/12 (none). Pass breakups — 2 vs. New Orleans, 10/28/12 (none). Fumble return yards — 12 vs. San Diego, 11/18/12 (none). Special-teams tackles — 3, twice, last vs. St. Louis, 11/28/10 (1 at New England, 12/14/12).
2012: Woodyard played 15 games with 14 starts and led the club with 114 tackles... Set career highs in starts, tackles, sacks (5.5), interceptions (3) and pass breakups (6)... Became the only player in the NFL this season and just the 12th player in the last 30 years to record at least 100 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions in a single campaign... Was elected a team captain for the fourth consecutive season... Earned the Darrent Williams Good Guy Award from the Denver chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America... Led all players with 12 tackles, including his second career sack and two tackles for a loss, in Denver’s season-opening 31-19 victory vs. Pittsburgh (9/9)... Finished tied for second on the club with six tackles (5 solo) at Atl. (9/17)... Made his second career interception on a one-handed grab with :46 to play in the first half vs. Hou. (9/23) that set up a Matt Prater field goal... Split a sack of Carson Palmer with DE Elvis Dumervil vs. Oak. (9/30) to give himself a career-best 1.5 sacks on the year... Ranked third on the team with 11 tackles and split a sack with Dumervil at N.E. (10/7)... Led the team with nine tackles and added a pair of special-teams stops at S.D. (10/15)... Earned the AFC Defensive Player of the Week Award after he set or matched career highs in nearly every defensive category vs. N.O. (10/28)... Became the first Bronco to post one sack, one interception and one forced fumble in the same game... Finished with a career-high 14 tackles to lead all players at Cin. (11/4)... Intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble vs. S.D. (11/18), while tying for the team lead with eight tackles to mark the 18th time in Broncos history a player has intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in the same game... Led the team with nine tackles and posted his fourth sack of the season with a third-down takedown of Brady Quinn that forced a Chiefs punt at K.C. (11/25)... Made a diving pass breakup on a fourth down in the third quarter at Bal. (12/16)... Set a career high with 1.5 sacks vs. Cle. (12/23)... Tied for second on the team with seven tackles in Denver’s Divisional-Round game vs. Bal. (1/12).
2011: Woodyard played 15 games, opening a career-high seven contests, and ranked second on the team with 87 tackles (60 solo) to go along with two passes defensed and two forced fumbles... Led the club in special-teams tackles (10) for the second consecutive season and the third time in his your years with the Broncos... Added one forced fumble on the kickoff coverage unit... Saw action in both of Denver’s postseason games and collected one special-teams stop... Matched a career-high with 13 tackles (10 solo) and added a pass defensed vs. Cin. (9/18)... Forced a Marion Barber fumble vs. Chi. (12/11) in Denver territory in overtime to prevent a game-winning score and set up Denver’s offense for the go-ahead field goal.
2010: Woodyard was named a team captain for the second consecutive year and played 11 games (3 starts) for Denver while totaling 23 tackles (20 solo), including one sack (10 yds.), in addition to a team-leading 15 special-teams stops... Tied for fifth in the NFL with 1.36 special-teams tackles per game... Recorded his first career sack (10 yds.) in Denver’s regular-season finale vs. S.D. (1/2).
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... Named the Broncos’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in each of the last two seasons... Earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Kentucky... Wesley Woodyard was born on July 21, 1986, in LaGrange, Ga.
