Tennessee Titans undrafted gem DT Antwaun Woods
The Tennessee Titans may have uncovered an undrafted gem in defensive tackle Antwaun Woods, who has similar traits to one of this new teammates…
The Tennessee Titans held the top overall pick in this year’s draft, but ended up trading down and out and picking up a ton of picks in the process. After their huge draft haul, they found Antwaun Woods out of USC on the undrafted player heap, and I think he could be a gem.
Woods is a stout, stocky defensive tackle at 6-0, 318 pounds, but at that size, he ran a 5.09 second 40-yard dash. With that much girth and shorter limbs, that’s an indicator of premiere speed for a man of size, and great quickness off the ball from his interior DL position is evident when you turn on the tape.
With a relentless motor and the way he worked back from injury his sophomore season, it’s clear to see that this is a guy who isn’t going to settle for being on the roster bubble. What’s really interesting is how his physical traits sort of line up with those of his new Titans teammate, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey.
I’m not going to say that Woods is at that level as a prospect, but the numbers aren’t too far off. Casey checked in at 6-1, 300 pounds with 32-inch arms coming out of USC, running a 5.06 second 40-yard dash.
Casey had a much more developed game in terms of getting to the quarterback, but Woods is no slouch and because of his lack of size and length, he went undrafted where Casey was a third round pick.
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Over the course of this past season, Woods racked up 41 tackles, seven TFL, and three sacks. Those numbers are really strong for an interior lineman, and the Titans are hoping that can translate to the next level.
The 2015 team captain and All-Pac 12 selection looks to me like a player that could crack an NFL roster, even if it’s not in Tennessee, especially as the NFL transitions to a lot of diverse fronts on the defensive line where his size isn’t necessarily a barrier between him and his ability to contribute in this league.
If you have strength and quickness as well as an ability to close on the ball carrier, you can make it in the NFL. I think the Titans found a gem here.