“Competitiveness. P.J. Woodland is a competitor. He’s feisty, he’s physical, and he can run. More than anything, for a freshman, we’ve thrown him out there with the ones and thrown him out there against our top receivers, and he competes. That’s where it starts, but he has the physical tools,” said defensive coordinator Blake Baker while talking about LSU’s freshman cornerback, P.J. Woodland.

The newcomer LB has started creating buzz after gearing up the depth chart through the off-season, right after hitting campus. P.J. Woodland was born and brought up in Hattiesburg, MS, USA. Even though P.J. excels as a cornerback, he can also play basketball with ease. Let us explore his journey both on and off the field to gain more insight into his character.

P.J. Woodland on his choice to play cornerback for LSU

Although the information about his parents’ professional or personal lives is unknown, there were instances when PJ talked about them. Before committing to LSU, Woodland initially decided to go with Mississippi State. Woodland’s closeness and family’s relationship with Mississippi cornerback coach Darcel McBath played a pivotal role in his decision. “My parents have a great relationship with Coach McBath, and so do I, Woodland said after he announced his commitment to Mississippi. “All of the coaches there always check on me, making me feel welcome there. Mcbath has been ready for me to be a bulldog.“ Since two of Woodland’s cousins are on the roster for the bulldogs, he often visited the campus with his parents; that’s when he started bonding with the staff.

The 6-foot-160-pounder who pledged to play for the Bulldogs wasted no time in revealing his commitment to the Tigers very soon. However, his decision didn’t surprise fans and recruiters because LSU had been in his final two choices. To back up his decision, he said, “I’ve been in contact with the staff for some time already. He added that “they have been on me like I’m already enrolled. Those guys have made me and my family feel welcome.” He went on by saying that LSU’s coach Steeples and coach Hicks believed in him and told him he had what it takes to play at LSU. With that said, Woodland now wants to continue the legacy of LSU and DBU. On that note, let’s have a closer look at his stats on the field and in his high school career.

Career highlights of P.J. Woodland

The rivals listed as a three-star in the On3 composite and a four-star P.J. Woodland as a cornerback. With more than 1300 receiving yards as a senior, this adaptable athlete—who also played basketball well—won the Mississippi 7A defensive player of the year award in 2023. He also played in the all-star game against Alabama in Mississippi. 

As a junior, he completed 38 tackles and 7 passes in 2022. Woodland then went on to record 52 tackles with 5 interceptions and two touchdowns in 2023. After delivering skyrocketing performances, he was named to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger large school all-state team in 2023. On top of that, he led the Oak Grove team to the Mississippi 7A state title in his senior year. Now that the star CB is preparing hard for the upcoming season, LSU fans have high hopes for him.