Freshman edge rusher Jayden Woods was a late addition to Florida’s 2025 recruiting class as the Gators flipped the top 100 prospect from Penn State a week before early signing day.
Playing for Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas, Woods racked up 212 tackles (101 solo), 25.5 TFLs, 18.5 sacks, 29 QB hurries, 12 pass break-ups, seven forced fumbles and an interception over his high school career. Woods ranked as the 10th edge prospect in the country, according to 247Sports.
Woods has garnered a lot of attention throughout spring camp from his coaches and teammates. Gators’ offensive line coach Jonathan Decoster was recently asked to name a player on defense that’s giving his position group troubles. His answer may surprise you.
“I’ll tell you what. 15, the true freshman (Jayden Woods), he got juice. He got juice, and he has power off the edge. I think he’ll be a really good player for us,” Decoster said on Woods.
The 6’3, 240-pound edge rusher first started turning heads in the summer during the offseason workout program. S&C coach Tyler Miles noted Woods as one of Florida’s top performers in the weight room.
“He’s young and he’s quiet, but Jayden Woods has set the tone, especially for the defense,” Miles said on Woods. “The guys are noticing, like, who is this kid?”
Woods is currently working with the JACK / OLB position group, a room consisting of LJ McCray, George Gumbs, and Kofi Asare. While playing time might be hard to find with the returning talent and experience, edge coach Mike Peterson claims Woods is ‘locked in’ early on in his career.
“Jayden Woods, man. I’m not surprised, from watching his high school tape, I’m seeing the same thing I saw on the film, I’m seeing the same guy that I met when I went to his high school. I don’t want to say shy, but real quiet. A locked in demeanor,” Peterson said on Woods. “Every word I say, he’s listening to it, kinda taking it in, but also kinda, I don’t want to say judging me, but seeing if it’s real. He’s been great, man. Quiet guy, but he can play, man, heavy handed, can really rush the passer, great kid. He is one of those kids when you are recruiting him where you are excited to talk to him on the phone, so great kid, I am excited about him.”
Woods checks all the boxes as a young edge rusher with his size, talent, and work ethic. The rookie also has leaders in the edge room like senior Tyreak Sapp he can turn to.
“Woods has a motor. That guy’s going every day in practice. He’s got a guy to look up to like [Tyreak] Sapp, so he’s coming with it every day at practice,” linebacker Jaden Robinson said on Woods.
Sapp believes the freshman’s mentality sets him apart from other guys.
“The kid’s a hard worker. He has extreme work ethic,” Sapp said on Woods. “Coming from, I feel like, coming from a place where he comes from (Kansas), I feel like he’s gotta have that blue-collar, blue-chip mentality because when people look at Kansas and football, it don’t really go hand-in-hand. He came here with a chip on his shoulder. I love the kid. He doesn’t have many words to say but he goes out. He catches on quick. He understands the techniques, he’s a unique guy, he applies it to his game and he’s going to be good in the future.”
Woods’ role in 2025 is unclear, but it’s entirely possible he gets the chance to play on third downs early on in his Gators’ career.