After entering Iowa State as a walk-on it has not taken Jeff Woody long to make an impact on the Cyclone football team. The former Southeast Polk standout is listed on depth chart at running back and could also see time on special teams as a redshirt freshman.
Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads says Woody is hard to tackle and has given them an “h-back” type player who can line up all over the field and catch the ball. The key has been finding a spot where Woody fits in. Rhoads says he thought Woody lacked speed and quickness in the open field as a high school player that would keep him from being an immediate scholarship player. But Rhoads says that is not what they ask him to do in this offense.
Rhoads says Woody has not had to over achieve to get on the depth chart. He says even if Woody feels that way, it’s not bad as he says that means he’ll play hard.
Woody says he has been working hard to prove himself to the coaches. He says the coach says there are three types of people on the team, leader, responders or jerks. Woody says he wants to be one of the leaders.
Woody admits he is motivated to show he can play in the Big-12, as he says when someone says you can’t do something that does put a chip on your shoulder. He says Rhoads has shown faith in him and that inspired him to do it.
Woody says he will accept any role given to him, and says he feels he can contribute in many ways from block or running in short yardage situations. Woody says as long as he gets on the field, he doesn’t care what he does.