Colorado’s safety-turned-linebacker Trevor Woods can really do it all. Woods was the third-highest tackler on the team last season, racking up 42 solo tackles and a total of 56 tackles. Woods, who started his football career as a safety in high school, played the same position in his freshman and sophomore years before switching to the linebacker position midway through last season before the Buffs needed him at that spot.

At the Big 12 Media Days, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders spoke about several high-impact players like Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, Charlie Offerdahl, and Mark Vassett. But Coach Prime’s face glowed up when he started speaking about Woods. “I really think this young man is going to be the next Brian Urlacher,” Sanders said. “I think he’s going to take the transition from safety to linebacker and be dominant.” As Trevor Woods prepares himself ahead of the season, here’s what you need to know about the player and his connection with NFL legend Brian Urlacher. 

Trevor Woods is one of the best out there this season

Born in Houston, Texas, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Woods peaked when he secured a 26-14 win against George Ranch with nine tackles, two forced fumbles, one tackle for loss, and another pass breakup in his senior year at James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas. Trained by coach Chad Simmons at Taylor, Woods chalked up as many as 74 tackles, 45 solo, with one sack, one interception and four forced fumbles. In what could only be called an impressive season for Woods, he also broke up two passes and even blocked two field goals. Even on the offense, Woods was a force to reckon with, catching four passes for 43 yards while also scoring a touchdown. As a special teams safety, he averaged 35.5 yards per punt on 22 punts, seven of which are inside the 20, and a long of 49 yards. He also had five kickoff returns for 150 yards and seven punt returns for 120, including a 64-yard return. Phew! That’s some performance!

A former three-star recruit, Trevor Woods was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week in his true freshman season for blocking a punt against Arizona which returned 36 yards for a touchdown. In his sophomore year under coach Karl Dorell, Woods played 10 games, scoring a total of 66 solo tackles, 84 total tackles, two tackles for loss. He also recorded eight third down stops, two forced fumbles, while breaking up five passes and snagging one interception. Woods was recognized defensive player of the game against California by the coaching staff. Woods, who has gotten noticeably bigger this season, has gained almost 20 pounds in less than one year, bulking from 198 to 217 pounds. A full-time linebacker now, he is all in to make a big impact this season. “I’ve gotten a lot bigger and a lot stronger. I feel a lot more comfortable (at linebacker),” said Woods confidently. While Woods was one of the Buffs’ better defensive players at safety, he has been enjoying being a linebacker lately as he can surprise the opposition a bit more.

Deion has full faith on Woods

A day after praising Woods at the Big 12 Media Days, comparing him to NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, Deion came up to Woods and said, “I gave you the spotlight, do something with it.”  But Woods is nothing but grateful to Coach Prime and ready to run with it. 

Sanders’ comparison of Woods with the golden jacket member Brian Urlacher makes sense. Like Woods, Urlacher too started as a high school safety and wide receiver before moving to linebacker at New Mexico. But Woods still has a long journey ahead to reach the level of the Hall of Famer, who was a first-round draft pick before earning his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in 2018.