In just the first week of Florida Gators spring camp, one name has been on everyone’s lips: freshman edge rusher Jayden Woods.
Woods, the No. 90 overall recruit in the 247 Sports 2025 rankings, was one of Florida’s final additions to their eighth-ranked recruiting class. The six-foot-three, 240-pound early enrollee flipped his commitment from Penn State to Florida in late November and has already turned heads in Gainesville. “This Jayden Woods guy has stood out,” head coach Billy Napier said Thursday. “I’m really pleased.”
Coming off a high school career that included 18.5 sacks, 25.5 tackles for loss, and seven forced fumbles, Woods arrives as the highest-rated Kansas recruit the Gators have signed this century. “Coming from a place like Kansas, he’s gotta have that blue-collar, blue-chip mentality,” senior leader Tyreak Sapp said. “People don’t associate Kansas with football, so he came here with a chip on his shoulder. I love the kid.”
Despite his quiet demeanor, Woods has made a strong impression in his short time on campus. “He’s young and quiet, but Jayden Woods has set the tone,” strength and conditioning coach Tyler Miles noted. “The guys are noticing, like, who is this kid?”
Florida’s edge room is loaded with talent, including returning players like Sapp and George Gumbs, but Woods has already shown the intangibles to make an early impact. His combination of size, work ethic, and high motor has impressed the coaching staff. “Great human being, tremendous effort, very intelligent, high motor—all the intangibles you could ask for in a player,” co-defensive coordinator Ron Roberts said. “It’s exciting to see. He’s everything you hope for as a football coach.”
While it’s still early in the battle for playing time, Woods has gotten off to a strong start. Though a major role isn’t expected right away, he could follow a similar path to five-star signee LJ McCray last season, earning rotational snaps and potentially more with strong performances.
For now, Woods is a name to watch in what’s shaping up to be an exciting spring for the Gators.
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