This spring, Trevor Woods feels a bit extra like himself as he wears his No. 43 jersey on the follow subject with the Colorado Buffaloes.
“It’s what I’ve worn my total life,” the sophomore security stated. “My dad wore it, so it’s simply what I wore after I was little.”
As a real freshman final yr, Woods wore No. 42, however smiled when requested if No. 43 makes him extra snug.
“Yeah it does,” he stated. “I like it.”
Whereas the brand new quantity would possibly play a small position in Woods’ consolation, he’s carrying confidence into this spring due to what he did as a freshman final yr.
As a backup, Woods performed solely 139 snaps on protection however recorded 23 tackles. He additionally had a key go breakup in a win towards Oregon State and made one of many greatest performs of the season for the Buffs, blocking a punt towards Arizona, scooping up the ball and taking it in for a landing.
“It actually provides you confidence,” he stated of what final yr did for him going into this spring. “It type of lets you understand you could play at this stage. It’s a special type of stage from coming from highschool and simply coming from a decrease stage like that. It simply type of establishes your self.”
Woods displayed a knack for large performs when he starred at James E. Taylor Excessive Faculty in Texas, together with a number of interceptions he returned for touchdowns.
Enjoying behind veterans Isaiah Lewis and Mark Perry final yr, Woods was capable of ease into the school recreation and made huge performs when given the chance.
Now, he’s acquired an opportunity to win a beginning job. Lewis is again for his senior yr, however Perry has transferred to TCU, leaving competitors huge open for a beginning spot.
“I’m doing my greatest to attempt to propel myself to a beginning position and attempt to be a frontrunner of the group,” Woods stated.
With Perry gone, Woods stated there’s a sense of urgency on his half to win the beginning job.
“That’s one spot gone, so that you type of thrust your self into the position a bit of bit, however I’m ready for it,” he stated. “That is what I got here right here to do and I’m prepared for it.”
CU doesn’t have loads of security depth this spring. Lewis has been restricted, leaving Woods and Tyrin Taylor, one other true sophomore, because the skilled safeties. The one different scholarship security this spring is Oakie Salave’a, an early enrollee true freshman who the Buffs had thought of utilizing at quarterback, however is now on protection.
Junior school switch Jeremy Mack and true freshmen Dylan Dixson and Xavier Smith be part of the group in the summertime.
No matter who’s on the market, Woods stated this can be a huge spring for the group.
“We positively must step up,” he stated. “We’ve acquired to be the quarterbacks of the protection we expect. We’re attempting to let everybody know the place they’re at, too, and regardless of having much less guys, we need to be the highest group all the time.”
Woods is hoping to be one of many prime guys on the protection and never simply recognized for his huge performs. Enhancing his man protection has been a degree of emphasis this offseason.
“I don’t need to be a legal responsibility at any level, so actually this offseason I labored absolutely on man,” he stated. “It’s type of paying off. I’ve been doing fairly good at it to date since being again however that’s positively the point of interest of my offseason.”
In fact, he hopes to proceed making huge performs – one thing he’s finished whereas carrying No. 42 and No. 43.
“Once you’re not on offense you continue to need to have the ability to attempt to make an impression,” he stated. “It’s one thing that type of will get all people going, it creates momentum so much. Clearly, it’s one thing to actually take delight in.”
