Craig Woodson

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Craig Woodson was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2025 (17/15, 3/3) 

• Serves as a starting safety and also plays a key role on special teams. 
• Made his NFL debut vs. Las Vegas (9/7). 
• Recorded his third and fourth tackles for loss vs. Carolina (9/28), becoming the first Patriots rookie defensive back to record 4 tackles for loss since the stat began being tracked in 1999. 
• Recovered a fumble that was forced by LB Christian Elliss in the fourth quarter at New Orleans (10/12) for his first career fumble recovery. Elliss knocked the ball loose from TE Juwan Johnson after a 13-yard reception from QB Spencer Rattler, and he recovered at the New England 49-yard line. 
• Recovered a fumble that was forced by S Jaylinn Hawkins in the first quarter at Baltimore (12/21). Hawkins knocked the ball loose from RB Derrick Henry after a 5-yard rush, and he recovered at the New England 32-yard line. The ensuing offensive drive resulted in a 1-yard touchdown pass from QB Drake Maye to TE Hunter Henry. 
• Became the first Patriots rookie to have 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception in a postseason game in the Divisional Round vs. Houston (1/18/26). He intercepted a pass from QB C.J. Stroud in the second quarter, and recovered a fumble by RB Woody Marks in the third quarter caused by CB Christian Gonzalez. The only other rookies to do so in NFL history are Jacksonville DT Derek Landri (1/5/08 at Pittsburgh), Green Bay CB Craig Newsome (1/6/96 at San Francisco), Washington S Alvin Walton (12/28/86 vs. the L.A. Rams), L.A. Rams CB Jerry Gray (1/4/86 vs. Dallas), Dallas CB Everson Walls (1/10/82 at San Francisco) and Detroit DB Terry Barr (12/29/57 vs. Cleveland).

COLLEGE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Third Team All-ACC (2024)
• Fourth Team All-Pac-12 Selection of Phil Steele (2023)
• College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District 8 Football Team (2022, 2023)
• National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society (2022, 2023)
• Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 (2022)
• One of two sixth-year seniors who have spent their entire collegiate career at Cal along with fellow Texas native and defensive back Miles Williams.

COLLEGE SEASONAL REVIEWS

Senior Year (2024):

• Started all 13 games for the Bears and registered 70 total tackles (45 solo), had 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery and was credited with 7 pass breakups and 1 quarterback hurry.
• Had the second fumble recovery of his career at Auburn, in addition to 6 solo tackles.
• Credited with season-high 8 tackles and a pair of pass breakups against Miami.
• Had 1 interception against Oregon State, his first of the season and fourth of his career. He also registered 3 tackles and 1 pass breakup against the Beavers.
• Caught his second interception of the season, and fifth of his career, at Wake Forest and added 5 tackles.
• Led the Bears with 10 tackles against Stanford (11/23).
• Named to Third Team All-ACC.

Junior Year (2023)

• One of Cal's four defensive players and seven overall to start all 13 games and contributed career highs of 81 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 4 pass breakups, while also picking up 1 interception.
• Had career-high 15 tackles against Oregon (11/4).
• Selected for the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District 8 Football Team and the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society both for the second of two consecutive seasons.

Sophomore Year (2022):

• One of eight Cal players, including four on defense, to start all 12 games.
• Contributed 75 tackles.
• Had 2 interceptions that he returned a career-high 41 yards, including 1 for a career-long 39 yards and his lone career touchdown against UC Davis.
• Added 1 forced fumble, 3 pass breakups and 2 quarterback hurries.

Freshman Year (2021):

• Did not play due to season-ending injury during training camp.

Freshman Year (2020):

• Played in all four games with two starts in a season shortened to four games by COVID, contributing 17 tackles, 2 pass breakups and his lone career blocked kick.
• Registered 3 tackles, 1 pass breakup and his blocked kick that he also added a 9-yard punt return on that came at UCLA on the Bruins' first punt attempt in the season-opener.

Freshman Year (2019):

• Played in four of the team's first five games as a reserve and primarily on special teams.

PERSONAL

• Combined for 166 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 13 passes deflected, two forced fumbles and two blocked field goals while also scoring four touchdowns over his final two varsity seasons for a pair of squads that reached the postseason to play in the Conference 6A D1 state championship.
• Earned unanimous All-District recognition as a 2018 senior when he had 96 tackles, 2 interceptions, 13 passes deflected, 2 forced fumbles and 2 blocked field goals while also scoring 4 touchdowns for a team that reached the opening round of the Conference 6A D1 state championships.
• Added second-team Academic All-State honors as a senior.
• Had 70 tackles and one interception as a junior for a team that was 7-5 overall and reached the second round of the Conference 6A D1 state championships.
• Also participated in track and field and was the area runner-up in the high jump as a 2017 sophomore.
• Born February 20, 2001.
• Son of Gregory and Hellen Woodson.
• A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
• Participated in Marshawn Lynch's Fam 1st Family turkey drive on Thanksgiving Day 2019.
• Graduated from Cal in May of 2023 with a bachelor's degree in film and media before adding a graduate certificate in business administration in December of 2023.