WOODYARD AT A GLANCE:
• A fourth-year linebacker who has served as a team captain the last two seasons and has played 43 career games (9 starts) since joining the club as a college free agent from the University of Kentucky.
• Leads the Broncos in special-teams tackles (35) since his rookie year in 2008, including a team-best 15 stops in just 11 games in 2010, ranking him fifth in the NFL with 1.36 special teams tackles per game.
• Started Denver’s final two regular-season games in 2010, totaling 14 tackles (13 solo), including his first career sack (10 yds.), to rank second on the team during that stretch.
• 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 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.
Quickly: Woodyard is a fourth-year linebacker who joined the club as a college free agent from the University of Kentucky. He leads the Broncos in special-teams tackles (36) since his rookie season in 2008. He posted at least 35 defensive tackles in each of his first three seasons while appearing in 43 of 48 possible games (9 starts). He was one of six undrafted linebackers to play in every possible game to start their career (minimum two seasons) until that streak was snapped vs. Sea. (9/19). He was selected as a 2010 team captain.
2011 Season Highlights:
• vs. Cincinnati (9/18): Led the team with 13 tackles (10 solo) including a tackle for loss when he pushed RB Brian Leonard out of bounds on a third down forcing Cincinnati to settle for a field goal.
• at Tennessee (9/25): Led the team for the second consecutive week with nine tackles (six solo) and recorded his first special teams takedown this season.
• at Green Bay (10/2): Had an assist on a special teams tackle on a kickoff return in the second quarter.
• at Miami (10/23): Recorded a special teams tackle on a punt return in the third quarter.
• at Oakland (11/6): Had two special teams tackles.
• vs. N.Y. Jets (11/17): Recorded a tackle and a forced fumble on special teams...He forced a fumble on a kickoff return in the third quarter that was recovered by CB Cassius Vaughn.
• at San Diego (11/27): Had a total of seven tackles including three in San Diego’s final drive in the fourth quarter which helped keep the Chargers from scoring sending the game into overtime.
• at Minnesota (12/4): Had a special teams tackle...Downed a punt on Minnesota’s seven yard line in the first quarter.
• vs. Chicago (12/11): Recorded his first forced fumble of the season which subsequently set up the game-winning drive as K Matt Prater hit a 51-yard field goal.
• at Buffalo (12/24): Had a pass breakup in the first quarter when he and DE Jason Hunter both tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage on a third down forcing the Bills to punt...He also had a special teams tackle
• vs. Kansas City (1/1): Had a special teams tackle on a punt return in the first quarter.
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 specialteams
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... Was a high school and college teammate of Broncos linebacker Braxton Kelley... Earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Kentucky... Wesley Woodyard was born on July 21, 1986, in LaGrange, Ga.
