The son of Hall of Famer Charles Woodson is headed to Ann Arbor, choosing Michigan over several suitors.
There is certainly a list of recognizable names for Michigan Wolverines fans, and the name that rings a lot of bells is Woodson. His son, Charles Woodson Jr., just made a major decision, as the four-star defensive back announced his commitment to the Wolverines on Friday. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Woodson Jr. chose his father’s alma mater over the Florida State Seminoles, Iowa State Cyclones, Kentucky Wildcats, Ole Miss Rebels, Syracuse Orange, Texas A&M Aggies, and others. But Michigan was the ultimate victor after extending an offer last summer.
New head coach Kyle Whittingham’s strong recruiting class is headlined by family legacy now, as Woodson Jr.’s father, Charles Woodson, won the Heisman Trophy with the Wolvers in 1997, becoming the first defensive back in college football history to win the award. He earned multiple honors throughout his career, including a three-time All-Big Ten and two-time All-American as he helped guide his team to the national title in 1997. More than 25 years later, that familiar name will come back to Ann Arbor.
To read more about the major recruiting add with family ties, here is the full story from Michigan Roundtable writer Zack Besaw.
Charles Woodson went on to be selected fourth overall in the 1998 NFL draft and had an 18-year career between the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers. He was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Those are some big shoes for the younger Woodson to fill as he joins Whittingham’s first recruiting class at Michigan, one off to a strong start and now one with a marquee name.