Woodson named Hogs’ co-Defensive Coordinator

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Head Coach Sam Pittman has named Marcus Woodson the Razorbacks’ co-Defensive Coordinator.

Woodson heads to Arkansas after spending the final three seasons at Florida State because the Seminoles’ defensive backs coach and defensive passing sport coordinator. This previous season, Woodson’s secondary helped lead the Noles to a 10-win marketing campaign capped by a Cheez-It Bowl victory. Florida State’s secondary was one of many nation’s finest in 2022 main the best way to assist FSU rank fourth within the FBS permitting 165.4 yards per sport to steer the Atlantic Coast Convention.

Woodson helped mildew security Jammie Robinson right into a two-time, first-team All-ACC performer. In 2022, Robinson led Florida State in tackles with 99, together with 5 tackles for loss. He led the Noles in tackles in 2021 with 84 to go together with an ACC-best 4 interceptions.

Robinson is ready to affix Woodson’s group of defensive backs to be chosen within the NFL Draft. Woodson has had six DBs picked over the past three NFL Drafts, together with 2020 first-round choice Noah Igbinoghene. Igbinoghene was the thirtieth total choose by the Miami Dolphins after Woodson coached him by way of a transition from broad receiver to defensive again upon his arrival at Auburn in 2018.

Florida State had eight totally different defenders seize at the very least one interception and compelled 20 complete takeaways in 2021. FSU picked off at the very least one go in eight straight video games to finish the season, the longest lively streak in America getting into the 2022 season and tied for the longest streak within the nation at any level in the course of the 2021 season.

In the course of the 2020 season, Florida State’s defensive backfield was chargeable for 10 takeaways and added 4 compelled fumbles. Woodson helped proceed the event of first-team All-ACC choice Asante Samuel Jr. into one of many nation’s premiere defensive backs. Samuel completed the season main all lively ACC defenders with 29 profession go breakups earlier than being chosen within the second-round of the NFL Draft choose by the Los Angeles Chargers. In data courting again to 2000, he was solely the second FBS defender to seize three interceptions and have two fumble recoveries in his crew’s first 4 video games of a season. Samuel additionally turned the primary FSU defender since 2016 with at the very least one takeaway in 4 straight video games and solely the third Seminole since 2000 with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a season.

Previous to Florida State, Woodson helped Auburn win 17 video games in two seasons (2018-19) whereas working alongside Arkansas’ new defensive coordinator Travis Williams. In 2019 with Woods because the defensive backs coach and Williams serving as co-defensive coordinator, the Tigers gained 9 video games and superior to the Outback Bowl behind a protection that ranked eighth nationally in third-down protection and pink zone protection, permitting conversions on simply 29.9% of third-down makes an attempt and 71.8% of pink zone journeys. Security Jeremiah Dinson earned second-team All-SEC honors after posting averaging 7.3 tackles per sport to go together with a pair of interceptions

The Tigers returned three interceptions for touchdowns in 2018, the ninth-highest complete within the nation, and ranked 14th within the nation in scoring protection by permitting 19.2 factors per sport. Auburn’s 9 speeding touchdowns allowed had been the second-lowest complete within the SEC and tied for the fifth-lowest complete within the FBS. The protection’s 38 sacks had been good for sixteenth nationally with the crew’s 96 tackles for loss coming in at No. 20. The Tigers’ protection capped the season with a 63-14 victory over Purdue, the fewest factors allowed in a Music Metropolis Bowl since 2009.

Woodson headed to The Plains after two seasons at Memphis teaching the Tigers’ defensive backs. Memphis gained 18 video games over the 2 seasons, forcing a mixed 60 takeaways, the second-highest complete within the nation throughout that span. The Tigers picked off 32 passes in Woodson’s two seasons and had been one in every of solely six groups within the nation to document at the very least 16 interceptions in each 2016 and 2017.

In 2017, Woodson coached T.J. Carter to Freshman All-America honors from ESPN and USA Immediately. Carter additionally was the American Athletic Convention Rookie of the Yr after breaking Memphis’ freshman document with 5 interceptions. In solely his second collegiate sport, Carter ended a fourth-quarter UCLA drive within the pink zone with an interception of Josh Rosen to assist safe Memphis’ 48-45 victory.

Previous to becoming a member of the Memphis employees, Woodson coached defensive backs at Fresno State for 2 seasons (2014-15). He helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2014 Mountain West Convention Championship Recreation and a berth within the Hawai’i Bowl. Security Derron Smith earned first-team All-Mountain West Convention accolades earlier than being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals within the sixth spherical of the 2015 NFL Draft. The 2015 Bulldogs’ 11 fumble recoveries to rank second within the convention and twentieth nationally.

From 2009-13, Woodson coached defensive backs and was the recruiting coordinator at Charleston Southern, tutoring 5 all-conference defensive backs. He additionally added defensive passing sport coordinator duties for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Charleston Southern completed the 2013 season with a school-record 10 wins and had been ranked No. 22 within the closing FCS ballot.

Woodson started his teaching profession at Millsaps Faculty in Jackson, Miss., the place he was the defensive backs coach (2005-08). The Majors gained three consecutive SCAC championships, together with an 11-1 document and No. 12 closing rating in 2008. Woodson coached 4 all-conference defensive backs whereas at Millsaps.

Woodson performed security at Ole Miss, beginning for 2 seasons earlier than his enjoying profession was minimize brief by an damage previous to his senior season. The Rebels superior to 4 bowl video games, together with the Cotton Bowl, the Music Metropolis Bowl and two journeys to the Independence Bowl throughout his profession. He went to Ole Miss after serving to lead Moss Level Excessive College to 2 Mississippi state titles.

A local of Moss Level, Miss., Woodson earned his bachelor’s diploma in political science with an emphasis in legal justice from Ole Miss in 2003 and was chosen for the Senior Management Unity Council.

Woodson and his spouse, Chastity, who holds a bachelor’s diploma from Loyola College New Orleans and a grasp’s diploma from Howard College, have two sons, Carter and Bryce.

The Marcus Woodson File
Faculty: Ole Miss, 2003 B.S. Political Science
Household: Spouse – Chastity; Sons – Carter and Bryce

Teaching Expertise
2005-08 Millsaps Faculty (Defensive Backs)
2009-11 Charleston Southern (Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator)
2012-13 Charleston Southern (Defensive Backs/Defensive Passing Recreation Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator)
2014-15 Fresno State (Defensive Backs)
2016-17 Memphis (Defensive Backs)
2018 Auburn (Defensive Backs)
2019 Auburn (Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator)
2020-22 Florida State (Defensive Backs/Defensive Passing Recreation Coordinator)

Taking part in Expertise
Ole Miss, 1999-2002