Hempstead, New York - Danny Woodhead, Jets running back who they signed this as an undrafted free agent hopes to make the NFL team and reach some new heights. During his college football career at Chadron State, while playing four seasons, he became the NCAA's career rushing leader. On Saturday, at the Jets practice field he made it
difficult to pick out his small body, with all the big bodies on the field.
"He's hard to find for a couple of reasons," coach Eric Mangini said with a smile Saturday, "the obvious one and he's pretty quick and pretty elusive."
Woodhead is only 5-foot-7 and 1/2 inches. As of right now, he's in the Jets rookie minicamp and is hoping to make a big impression.
"A lot of other people have thought: 'You're the underdog, so you probably really want to do good,'" Woodhead said Saturday. "Honestly, I just think of it as being any other football player. I don't want people to feel sorry for me."
During his four seasons at Chadron State, he rushed for 7,962 yards and compiled 9,479 career all-purpose yards, which became the second-best in college football history. He also, was a a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner. That trophy goes to the nation's top Division II player.
"I just want to keep on playing, just like every other guy in this locker room," Woodhead said. "That's what I'm going to do is work hard and hopefully I can keep on playing football."
Woodhead was hoping to get a phone call during the NFL Draft, last weekend. And no teams called his phone. Then after the draft ended, the Jets came calling and wanted him to sign him as a free agent.
"I wanted to be somewhere, I really did," Woodhead said. "This just happened to be the best opportunity."
People have always counted out Woodhead, because of his hight. Which, he's always has been the smallest guy on the roster. His weight on him is pretty good though, at 195 pounds. That makes him look kind of like a kid lost in a forest when he is around players. Some example for players are defensive end Ropati Pitoitua at 6-8, or linebacker Wallace Artis at 6-5.
"There's a lot of guys that have been small and undersized and been great players in the National Football League," said 6-3, 264-pound linebacker Vernon Gholston, the Jets' top pick, sixth overall. "It's all about your heart and will to win and how well you can pick up everything at this point."
Woodhead might be able to make the Jets, that's if he can play play special teams and learn the playbook. He also, could prove to be a perfect complement to running back Leon Washington, who's 5-8. People should know already though, that he's not a Darren McFadden type.
"I love football," Woodhead said. "If you love to play the game, it doesn't matter. I think everybody is like that. They just want a shot. I'm just trying to take advantage of this opportunity."
"Yeah, he's a little smaller than Gholston," Mangini said with a laugh. "But Leon isn't the biggest guy to get off the bus, but he's a pretty effective guy. I've been around a lot of players that people may consider undersized that were incredibly effective."
Again, Woodhead is use to being an underdog. He had been lightly recruited out of high school by Division I schools. Instead, of going to one of those schools, he decided to stay close to his home and follow his brother, Ben, who was a wide receiver playing for Chadron State. After he did that, Woodhead went on to have one of the most successful football careers in NCAA history, showing all those people who had kept countinh him out because he was too small for the game, that he could play it.
"It's something that people have said in the past, but I've never gotten caught up in it," Woodhead said. "It's never bothered me and I'm fine with how I am, so I'm just going to keep working hard."
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