April 26, 2025 • 8 mins
Patriots Fourth round, 106th overall pick, safety Craig Woodson addresses the media on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Start with doun Kyde.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hey, Craig.
Speaker 3 (00:03):
First of all, congratulations on being picked and welcome to
New England. I just wanted to ask what your what
your action was where you were, what was going on
when you were being picked.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (00:14):
Man, as soon as I've seen the call and seeing
a location of the call saying Foxboro, Massachusetts, I already
knew it was New England, got that call, got on
the phone. It was great, just telling them that I
was blessed to just hear from them, and I've been
waiting on them really, That's that's really been my main thing.
So I'm just happy that I got the call and
(00:35):
it's time to work.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
If I could just sneak one more in here. I
think you played with Jalen Hawkins at cal What do
you remember about that experience of playing with him?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
It was great. When I came in.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Jalen was a senior, so I just really watched him,
kind of just wanted to soak in everything that he
did at practice and the games. And one thing I
always remember by Jalen he always said it just played
turnt and that was one thing that I just took
with me for the rest of my career.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
So just going out there playing free.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
And he just texted me after I got the call,
and I'm just happy to be back with him and
it's gonna be great, awesome.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Next question, Taylor Kyles.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Craig, Welcome to you in Man.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Congratulations on being drafted.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
I was just curious for those who aren't familiar with
your role in Cal's defense, what were you kind of
doing in terms of your alignment were you're doing on
a staff to staff basis, and how do you think
you'll fit in the Patriots defense. It's probably gonna be
more man heavy and maybe playing a ton of quarters.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
At Cal, we print every bit of coverage you can
think of. So for me, this last year I played
boundary safety. We made all the checks and communications in
the back end, and the last two years before last year,
I played field safety, so I have like the experience
with both sides of the safety range. And then I mean,
like you said, with the man coveras they do and
just putting me at like a single hire, putting quarters.
(01:54):
I think I have comfortability with that and just making
the communication because that's safety. You got to be able
to make the calls and had a mental aspect of
just you know everything's coming fast. You got to be
able to communicate and say the right things to get
everybody lined up. So that's what I do best. At Cal,
we ran pretty much everything, like I said, So I
don't think it's gonna be anything too difficult for me.
I think I'm gonna come in and really transition easy.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Next question, Mike Rise.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Hey Greg, how about special teams? What has been your
background in teams? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I did every bit of special teams when I first
came in as a freshman. I was really all for
a corps, but did a lot of punt in my career.
PBR ran on kickoff as the safety on kickoffs. So
whatever they need me to do on special teams in
New England, hey, I'm there for I'm not the type
of player who's like too good for special teams or
(02:47):
trying to run away from it.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Special teams is another extension defense.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
In my mind, so being able to set the defense
up for a good field position or even the offense
when it comes to special teams, Like you gotta take
advantage of that and put me on the field on
special teams, I'm going down and make a play.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And just a quick follow up. It sounded like you
knew the area code.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
What was the connection with the Patriots lead you know,
leading up to the draft?
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yeah, man, the Patriots was my only formal interview at
the combine, So that was one thing that really stuck
out to me. And then once they brought me in
on a thirty visit, everything was just great. Like the
staff was great, coaches was great, and it was just
good vibs there. And I think that you know, me
coming in, it's gonna be it's gonna feel good. You know,
(03:35):
it's not like a place, even though it is far
from Texas and California, but I'm coming in. I'm ready, man,
I'm ready to work with that coach of staff and
even the guys on the team.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Next question, Mark Daniels.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Great, congratulations. Curious who do who do you model your
game after? And are you familiar with the Patriots history?
The safety position one of my game after. It's not
really anybody that I really model after.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
There's definitely guys in the league that I watched, like
cam Bine on my watch, read Blanker's Ship. Other guys
like Shoot Kirby Joseph who just got paid, like those
guys who go get the ball, who can also come
up and tackle, Like those are the type of things
that I like to put in my game. And then
when it comes to just safeties on the Patriots, only
(04:24):
really safety I know, like that is is Jalen Hawkins
over there and you know also Jabrill Preface is over
there at one point. But I know those guys can play.
So I'm ready to come in and work some Thanks
and congrats.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Again, thank you.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Next question Chris Ryan.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Hey, Greg, congratulations.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
Just when you think of New England Patriots, what you
know kind of comes to mind for you and what
excites you most.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
About this particular opportunity Just the long history of the Patriots,
especially like the years of Tom Brady being there, winning
the Super Bowls, having that winning culture like that. That's
what I think of when I think of the Patriots
is their their run of being a great winning program.
And even though you know this last year or so
(05:10):
has it been the best for the organization. I think
that with us coming in this draft class, I think
it's time to get to work and maybe we can
change things around and make this team, you know, really
a winning organization again.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
And I think that we have the coaches to do that,
So I'm just excited. Thanks for ship it. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Next question, Ian Steele.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Great, congratulations, Thank you.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
I'm curious about your style of play. It seems like,
you know the highlight reels and things that we've seen,
you're very physical. You're able to fly around and make
big hits. What's the feeling when you deliver that? And
I'm sure you're planning on bringing that to the next
level as well.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Yeah, I mean hidden people is what I've been like
to do since a kid, like when I first started
playing football, Like just running up, hitting somebody's getting them
on the ground, Like that's everything that I've loved since
a kid. So just you know, coming into college and
being physical as well, coming from Texas as well, like
we played physical football down in Texas, So bringing out
(06:12):
the college at CAW, I mean it was it was great,
and I think that for me, that's really the thrill
of the game. Just running and hitting. That's that's what
I love, running and hitting. So I'm gonna love bringing
that to New England. And I know there's guys there
who're gonna be on the same page.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And we'll do two final questions here. Sophie Willer followed
by andre Kallahan.
Speaker 6 (06:36):
Hi, congratulations on getting drafted. I was just curious if
you could explain your play style to Patriots fans. What
would it be and just what can they expect from
you this season.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Yeah, my play style, I know, we just talked about
being physical, hitting, that's my you know, one number one
thing that I do. But I also think I can
bring versatility when it comes to coverage, just being in
a deep post or being in a deep path. I
had some interceptions in the dpath this year and making
plays on the ball, So I think for me, like
I really have the versatility to do anything and even
(07:09):
match over receivers if it come down to it. So
for me, I mean, my play style is really anywhere. Like,
I don't think there's anything that I can't do on
the field. So I'm just ready to show that to
Patriot's nation.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
And final question here from Andrew Callahan.
Speaker 8 (07:26):
Hey, Craig, just want to echo congratulations, welcome to New England.
Looking forward to seeing you here soon. You're reputed to
be a very smart player. Can you just give us
an example of a play, whether it's your film study,
play recognition, something that came up because of your intelligence
and healthy on the field.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I can think back to the play when we played Pitt.
It was like third and six. We were coming down
in this coverage called thief is basically like a one
hole rat player. I'm the rat player, but just with
the splits of the tight end and then the receiver
motion and out. So it was a WIZI reduced, which
means like you can alert some type of rub or switch.
So with that going, boss apps quarterbacks look into the field,
(08:07):
but on the boundary safety coming down on my alignment.
And then once I've seen the y Z reduce, I'm
knowing that it could be some type of drive. So
once that drive comes over to the middle of the field,
going going make the place smack them so stop them
before they can get the first down.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
And that was the highlight of my season.
Speaker 8 (08:25):
Thanks very much, man, appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Thank you Greg, thank you so much for joining us today.
Congratulations again, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Thank you. Appreciate you all of y'all and hopefully I'll
be seeing you all soon.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Thank you.
Start with doun Kyde.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hey, Craig.
Speaker 3 (00:03):
First of all, congratulations on being picked and welcome to
New England. I just wanted to ask what your what
your action was where you were, what was going on
when you were being picked.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (00:14):
Man, as soon as I've seen the call and seeing
a location of the call saying Foxboro, Massachusetts, I already
knew it was New England, got that call, got on
the phone. It was great, just telling them that I
was blessed to just hear from them, and I've been
waiting on them really, That's that's really been my main thing.
So I'm just happy that I got the call and
(00:35):
it's time to work.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
If I could just sneak one more in here. I
think you played with Jalen Hawkins at cal What do
you remember about that experience of playing with him?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
It was great. When I came in.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Jalen was a senior, so I just really watched him,
kind of just wanted to soak in everything that he
did at practice and the games. And one thing I
always remember by Jalen he always said it just played
turnt and that was one thing that I just took
with me for the rest of my career.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
So just going out there playing free.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
And he just texted me after I got the call,
and I'm just happy to be back with him and
it's gonna be great, awesome.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Next question, Taylor Kyles.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Craig, Welcome to you in Man.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Congratulations on being drafted.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
I was just curious for those who aren't familiar with
your role in Cal's defense, what were you kind of
doing in terms of your alignment were you're doing on
a staff to staff basis, and how do you think
you'll fit in the Patriots defense. It's probably gonna be
more man heavy and maybe playing a ton of quarters.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
At Cal, we print every bit of coverage you can
think of. So for me, this last year I played
boundary safety. We made all the checks and communications in
the back end, and the last two years before last year,
I played field safety, so I have like the experience
with both sides of the safety range. And then I mean,
like you said, with the man coveras they do and
just putting me at like a single hire, putting quarters.
(01:54):
I think I have comfortability with that and just making
the communication because that's safety. You got to be able
to make the calls and had a mental aspect of
just you know everything's coming fast. You got to be
able to communicate and say the right things to get
everybody lined up. So that's what I do best. At Cal,
we ran pretty much everything, like I said, So I
don't think it's gonna be anything too difficult for me.
I think I'm gonna come in and really transition easy.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Next question, Mike Rise.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Hey Greg, how about special teams? What has been your
background in teams? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I did every bit of special teams when I first
came in as a freshman. I was really all for
a corps, but did a lot of punt in my career.
PBR ran on kickoff as the safety on kickoffs. So
whatever they need me to do on special teams in
New England, hey, I'm there for I'm not the type
of player who's like too good for special teams or
(02:47):
trying to run away from it.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Special teams is another extension defense.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
In my mind, so being able to set the defense
up for a good field position or even the offense
when it comes to special teams, Like you gotta take
advantage of that and put me on the field on
special teams, I'm going down and make a play.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And just a quick follow up. It sounded like you
knew the area code.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
What was the connection with the Patriots lead you know,
leading up to the draft?
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yeah, man, the Patriots was my only formal interview at
the combine, So that was one thing that really stuck
out to me. And then once they brought me in
on a thirty visit, everything was just great. Like the
staff was great, coaches was great, and it was just
good vibs there. And I think that you know, me
coming in, it's gonna be it's gonna feel good. You know,
(03:35):
it's not like a place, even though it is far
from Texas and California, but I'm coming in. I'm ready, man,
I'm ready to work with that coach of staff and
even the guys on the team.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Next question, Mark Daniels.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Great, congratulations. Curious who do who do you model your
game after? And are you familiar with the Patriots history?
The safety position one of my game after. It's not
really anybody that I really model after.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
There's definitely guys in the league that I watched, like
cam Bine on my watch, read Blanker's Ship. Other guys
like Shoot Kirby Joseph who just got paid, like those
guys who go get the ball, who can also come
up and tackle, Like those are the type of things
that I like to put in my game. And then
when it comes to just safeties on the Patriots, only
(04:24):
really safety I know, like that is is Jalen Hawkins
over there and you know also Jabrill Preface is over
there at one point. But I know those guys can play.
So I'm ready to come in and work some Thanks
and congrats.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Again, thank you.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Next question Chris Ryan.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Hey, Greg, congratulations.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
Just when you think of New England Patriots, what you
know kind of comes to mind for you and what
excites you most.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
About this particular opportunity Just the long history of the Patriots,
especially like the years of Tom Brady being there, winning
the Super Bowls, having that winning culture like that. That's
what I think of when I think of the Patriots
is their their run of being a great winning program.
And even though you know this last year or so
(05:10):
has it been the best for the organization. I think
that with us coming in this draft class, I think
it's time to get to work and maybe we can
change things around and make this team, you know, really
a winning organization again.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
And I think that we have the coaches to do that,
So I'm just excited. Thanks for ship it. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Next question, Ian Steele.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Great, congratulations, Thank you.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
I'm curious about your style of play. It seems like,
you know the highlight reels and things that we've seen,
you're very physical. You're able to fly around and make
big hits. What's the feeling when you deliver that? And
I'm sure you're planning on bringing that to the next
level as well.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Yeah, I mean hidden people is what I've been like
to do since a kid, like when I first started
playing football, Like just running up, hitting somebody's getting them
on the ground, Like that's everything that I've loved since
a kid. So just you know, coming into college and
being physical as well, coming from Texas as well, like
we played physical football down in Texas, So bringing out
(06:12):
the college at CAW, I mean it was it was great,
and I think that for me, that's really the thrill
of the game. Just running and hitting. That's that's what
I love, running and hitting. So I'm gonna love bringing
that to New England. And I know there's guys there
who're gonna be on the same page.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And we'll do two final questions here. Sophie Willer followed
by andre Kallahan.
Speaker 6 (06:36):
Hi, congratulations on getting drafted. I was just curious if
you could explain your play style to Patriots fans. What
would it be and just what can they expect from
you this season.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Yeah, my play style, I know, we just talked about
being physical, hitting, that's my you know, one number one
thing that I do. But I also think I can
bring versatility when it comes to coverage, just being in
a deep post or being in a deep path. I
had some interceptions in the dpath this year and making
plays on the ball, So I think for me, like
I really have the versatility to do anything and even
(07:09):
match over receivers if it come down to it. So
for me, I mean, my play style is really anywhere. Like,
I don't think there's anything that I can't do on
the field. So I'm just ready to show that to
Patriot's nation.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
And final question here from Andrew Callahan.
Speaker 8 (07:26):
Hey, Craig, just want to echo congratulations, welcome to New England.
Looking forward to seeing you here soon. You're reputed to
be a very smart player. Can you just give us
an example of a play, whether it's your film study,
play recognition, something that came up because of your intelligence
and healthy on the field.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I can think back to the play when we played Pitt.
It was like third and six. We were coming down
in this coverage called thief is basically like a one
hole rat player. I'm the rat player, but just with
the splits of the tight end and then the receiver
motion and out. So it was a WIZI reduced, which
means like you can alert some type of rub or switch.
So with that going, boss apps quarterbacks look into the field,
(08:07):
but on the boundary safety coming down on my alignment.
And then once I've seen the y Z reduce, I'm
knowing that it could be some type of drive. So
once that drive comes over to the middle of the field,
going going make the place smack them so stop them
before they can get the first down.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
And that was the highlight of my season.
Speaker 8 (08:25):
Thanks very much, man, appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Thank you Greg, thank you so much for joining us today.
Congratulations again, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Thank you. Appreciate you all of y'all and hopefully I'll
be seeing you all soon.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Thank you.
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