Antwaun Woods

Antwaun Woods's Biography

Antwaun Woods, born on January 3, 1993, is a seasoned American football player celebrated as a highly capable nose tackle. His football prowess came into the spotlight during his tenure at the University of Southern California (USC), eventually leading to his involvement with the professional teams, the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys.

Woods discovered his talents at a young age, becoming a fixture on William Howard Taft’s high school football team for four solid years. His dedication was rewarded during his junior year, securing an impressive record of 38 tackles and four sacks. His senior year was equally impressive, boasting 31 tackles and two sacks, earning him recognition as Super Prep All-American, Under Armour All-American, and ESPNU 150.

A scholarship offered by USC marked the next stage of Woods’ journey. His first year at USC was a redshirt year, but the freshman season that followed saw Woods in the starting line-up for the initial four games, during which he recorded 16 tackles, three sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss. From there, he appeared in a backup role for the remainder of the season.

Woods’ performance improved steadily during his sophomore season, which he started with an impressive record of 20 tackles, one sack, two tackles for a loss, and a pass deflection. His junior year was primarily dedicated to the nose tackle position, resulting in 37 tackles, one sack, and a tackle for loss in the ten out of twelve games he started. However, setbacks came unexpectedly, with an injury leading to a premature end to his season.

His senior year ended on a grand note, earning him the title of Defensive Lineman of the Year thanks to his record of 38 tackles, three sacks, and six tackles for a loss. The tally across his college career was impressive, with a total of 111 tackles, eight sacks, and 13.5 tackles for loss. Woods was not solely restricted to the football field, his creativity branched into art. The USC 2013 “Artletics” exhibition showcased some of his artistic pieces. He rounded off his time at USC in 2015, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

Post-college, the undrafted player signed with the Tennessee Titans in May 2016, only to be released in September. A subsequent signing to the Titans’ practice squad a day later led to a promotion to the active roster as the year came to a close.

In 2017, he was signed again by the Titans on a reserve/future contract. Later, in addition to being waived/injured, he was placed on injured reserve, and finally released with an injury settlement in May 2018.

Moving into the next phase of his professional career, Woods signed a two-year contract worth $1.05 million with the Dallas Cowboys in May 2018. Overcoming concussion-related barriers, he demonstrated sheer prowess throughout multiple games, at times even battling through injuries. His contribution was significant, ending two seasons with impressive tackle numbers and a single fumble recovery.

The 2020 season started for Woods against the backdrop of a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender agreement. Seeing action as a reserve player and later becoming a starter, he battled through various injuries. The season wrapped up with 14 appearances, seven starts, 33 tackles, one sack, and four quarterback pressures.

In March 2021, Woods accepted a restricted free agent tender from the Cowboys and ultimately signed a one-year contract. However, the drafting of many defensive players by the Cowboys in the 2021 NFL draft led to Woods’ release in May 2021.

A new contract with the Indianapolis Colts followed, lasting from May to September 2021. After being released, he rejoined the Colts on their practice squad before being promoted to the active roster. He was then released again and brought back onto the practice squad before rejoining the active roster. An injury let to his placement on injured reserve in December. His tenure with the Colts saw him feature in seven games and record five tackles.

Woods found a new opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals in July 2022. Despite being released in August, he was quickly signed to the practice squad. He appeared in a single game, delivered two tackles, one of which was for loss before leaving the team in January 2023.

Away from the football field, Woods faced challenges with legality, being charged with possession of marijuana and tampering with evidence in Frisco, Texas in December 2019. This incident, however, did not interfere with Woods’ football career and he continued to strive with determination and resilience, exhibiting a strong commitment to his professional journey.