In a uncommon and headline-worthy switch, HBCU soccer program Delaware State has added Division III standout James Woods of Brevard Faculty to its soccer roster. First-year head coach and NFL nice DeSean Jackson continues to make waves along with his unconventional recruiting strategy, and Woods could also be his most intriguing addition but. The North Carolina native introduced his switch by way of his X account, confirming his transfer from the non-scholarship ranks of DIII to the FCS-HBCU stage.
Woods, a 6-foot, 180-pound defensive again, turned heads at Brevard Faculty, the place he earned All-conference honors. Final season, He had 4 interceptions, 9 move breakups, and 31 tackles in seven video games. Woods completed the 12 months with two touchdowns, together with a 60-yard pick-six that earned him a spot on the D3Football.com Nationwide Workforce of the Week.
DIII Star
In three seasons at Brevard, Woods put up a powerful profession stat sheet. He performed in 26 video games, recorded 112 complete tackles (89 solo), 5 interceptions, three compelled fumbles, three blocks, and three touchdowns. Regardless of taking part in at a program with out athletic scholarships, his manufacturing made him a standout expertise on the DIII stage.
It’s exceedingly uncommon for a Division III participant to make the leap on to an FCS program. Most transfers from DIII both step into smaller NAIA or DII faculties, and solely a handful per 12 months make the bounce to FCS or greater. Notable exceptions embrace gamers like Ali Marpet (Hobart to the NFL) and Brandon Zylstra (Concordia to the CFL and NFL), proving the pipeline is slender however not inconceivable.
Since taking the reins at Delaware State, DeSean Jackson has dedicated to discovering missed expertise from coast to coast. His recruiting path has included gamers from under-recruited areas, junior faculties, and now Division III—a transfer that displays each his eye for expertise and his perception in second probabilities. Woods provides to a rising listing of transfers and signees who come from nontraditional paths however hope to carry starvation and uncooked potential to the Hornets’ locker room.
For Delaware State, a program seeking to rise within the HBCU soccer panorama, these sorts of strikes sign a contemporary philosophy. Jackson is betting on upside and keenness over pedigree. Whether or not that gamble pays off will unfold on the sphere, however one factor is definite—James Woods’ journey from Brevard to the FCS highlight is already some of the intriguing tales of this recruiting cycle.
With expertise like Woods and a coach unafraid to interrupt the mildew, Delaware State’s upcoming season can be one to observe on the planet of HBCU soccer.
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