Woodie Ready to Lay the Wood in His 2nd Season at Cal

Raymond Woodie III came out of high school as a 4-star safety known for his speed and physicality. The redshirt junior from Tallahassee, FL originally committed to and played for the Florida State Seminoles, but changing schools and locations is nothing new to him, especially during his high school career. Though he traveled across the country to get to where he is today. one thing remains constant: The name of his game is physicality. 

“Yes sir, definitely,” Woodie said. “I feel like whenever someone comes across the middle a running back or whomever, that’s what we pride our whole room in. Physicality. That’s the first thing we talk about. I feel like it’s not just me but everybody on the field. We feel like this spring, just being physical and imposing our will on everyone.” 

In his senior year at Florida State University High School, he logged 46 tackles, 1 sack, and 4 pass deflections. During the 2 years at FSU, he accumulated 19 games played with 2 starts, 34 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. Last year with Cal he recorded 7 tackles in 12 games. His game is developing to be a leader and an enforcer in the secondary, as it is being preached among the coaches. One thing that he is particularly appreciating, is people taking notice of his physicality but also being on the same team in the same system for two consecutive seasons. 

“Yeah, I defiantly take pride in that, but I feel like having the opportunity to be in the same system (is important). I was telling the coaches earlier, my journey has been really unique, having my dad being a coach and moving around my whole life and in college, having coaches get fired or transfer. It is really my first time being in the same system two years in a row in my entire life. The more reps I get, I feel like the faster I am.” 

Woodie was asked how often he moved in high school.

 “Four different high schools in 4 years,” Woodie said with a smile. “I lived in Florida, so I went to two high schools in Florida. Then I moved to Eugene, Oregon for a year. That’s really when Cal started recruiting me. Then I moved back to Tallahassee, Florida. So yeah four different high schools.” 

Would he recommend it to other high school student athletes?

“I mean I wouldn’t.” Woodie jokingly said. “I wouldn’t recommend four years at four different high schools, but it definitely helped me with my people skills and helped me to adapt to a lot of different situations. So, I am thankful for that.” 

Though Woodie was able to learn new skills from players and coaches all over the country, he is grateful now he has a place to call home and to have the same playbook for consecutive years.

“It’s great. Like I said being able to have that confidence and knowing what I’m supposed to do at all times and I’m able to take a deep dive into the playbook, I feel like it really helps, and I feel like my game is going to really take off.” 

There are a lot of differences between Florida and California football-wise but only one thing really stuck out to him during his time at FSU and why he believed Cal was his best choice. 

“A lot of people say family, but I feel like this truly is a family,” Woodie said. “We all compete on the field, talk trash,. Y’all see it, but at the end of the day, we all love each other. I feel like I know everyone’s name on the team and when I came in, I felt like they all embraced me, even the guys in my position that were competing with me. We all love each other and that’s what I can say with 100%.” 

There’s no place like (your new) home.

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