Arthur Ward/CFL.ca
TORONTO — It’s no surprise football comes naturally to CFL prospect Robert Woodson. After all, his father and brother both played the Canadian game.
Woodson’s father, Tony, played four seasons in the CFL as linebacker including two with the Calgary Stampeders in 1985 to 1986.
His older brother, Anthony, was a running back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before signing with the Calgary Stampeders as a free agent this off-season.
“Football runs in my family,” said Woodson. “When I was seven-years-old I got into it. My dad played, my brother (plays). It’s just kind of natural and it just fit. As soon as I strapped up the helmet and put on the pads I just really fell in love with it and I’ve never looked back since then.”
Woodson talked to CFL.ca in a one-on-one interview at this year’s combine, which can be seen below:
Just like his older brother, Woodson was a member of the Calgary Dinos where he suited up for four seasons. In his first season in 2013, the 5-foot-11 defensive back dressed in seven of 10 games, starting in five including both playoff games. Although he saw a lot of playing time, he didn’t feel like he had perfected his game to where it is today.
“My first year I was fortune enough to start but I was like a chicken with his head cut off running around and stuff like that,” Woodson admitted. “I think that I’m a lot more fine tuned (now).”
In 2016, Woodson was named a Canada West All-Star for the second consecutive season and was seventh on the team in tackles with 16 and recorded one forced fumble, an interception and a pass breakup.
He was ranked 14th on the third and final CFL Scouting Bureau rankings, up three spots from his previous ranking of 17 back in December. At the 2017 CFL Combine presented by Adidas, Woodson nabbed the second-fastest 3-cone time, finishing the drill in 7.03 seconds.
After all of that hard work, perhaps Woodson will be the third generation to suit up in the red and white when draft day comes around.
Until then, he just wants to make sure he puts the work in to help any team that decides to draft him, whether it’s the Stampeders or not.
“I’m a team guy,” he said. “I love winning and I hate losing. Every day I want to make sure that I’m the best for my teammates and I’m a leader and I set an example like that. I know that will carry over to the next level with whatever team I’m in.”
