Charles Woodson’s life has come full circle. The former defensive back couldn’t be happier to see his son, Charles Woodson Jr., don the Michigan Wolverines’ maize and blue. He shared his thoughts on the Wolverines not just as their alumnus but as a father.

“I was trying to contain myself,” Woodson said on June 18 at Kensington Hotel in Ann Arbor. 

The Wolverines have landed a generational talent. Woodson Jr. the three-star Lake Nona safety who committed to them from 21 offers. According to USA Today, in his junior year he recorded 73 tackles, eight pass breakups, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. 

He led his school to an 8-4 record and the regional semifinal of the 7A state playoffs in Florida. The safety chose Michigan over programs like Florida State.

According to ESPN, he had received an offer from the Wolverines last summer. He also had offers from Florida State, Iowa State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Syracuse, and Texas A&M, to name a few programs.

Woodson was in Ann Arbor, accompanying his son for his first official visit. It coincided with the events supporting his Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund benefiting C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. 

“But I’m super excited for him. I know what Michigan is and what Michigan has to offer firsthand. I tried to convey that to him. Of course, I tried not to be too pushy with it…I just think there’s no better place than the University of Michigan,” MLive reported him saying.

Woodson Jr. is all set to carry forward the legacy, but what was his father’s time with the Wolverines like?

How Charles Woodson almost quit the Michigan Wolverines

Woodson had an incredible run at Michigan and set a record that is still upheld. He is the only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy in 1997. This record is even significant since he won more votes than the legendary Payton Manning.

Woodson nearly left the program over a petty miscommunication issue with his head coach, Lloyd Carr, which makes him laugh whenever he looks back at it. After coach Carr, whowas unaware of Woodson’s backache, scolded him for inattentiveness he called his mother to say he wants to leave the Wolverines.

“Basically a kid in his feelings, and I’ve told the story, but it’s crazy,” he said. 

His mother convinced him to stay and proceeded to have a great year. He won laurels in the NFL too. Woodson was declared the 1998 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. His impact on the school is so deep as expressed by an analyst  

“Michigan football has landed royalty, and it is none other than the son of Charles Woodson, the arguably greatest Michigan football player in team history,” a Sports Talk Wolverines analyst said after Woodson Jr. committed on May 15.

Woodson and the Wolverines are excited to see this journey unfold. What about you?

Read more at the Michigan Football Community!

Written by

Akanksha Biradar