Oklahoma State was Woods’s first stop as a college athlete. Over the course of three seasons, he caught 31 passes for 361 yards and four scores.
For his final year of high school, the Georgia native moved to Virginia. After catching 44 passes for 598 yards and eight scores, he was selected to the first team All-ACC. His NFL Draft debut came in 2022, when the Indianapolis Colts took him in the third round, with the 73rd overall pick.
In Week 3 of the 2022 season, Woods’ Colts narrowly defeated the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Woods accomplished a career first in the 20-17 triumph by scoring two touchdowns. Woods’ 98-yard, eight-reception performance in Week 12’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was another standout performance from his rookie year. He had 25 receptions for 312 yards and three scores by season’s end.
After tearing his hamstring in preseason training, Woods has been out for the entire season. He will probably sit out the rest of the year after injuring his second hamstring.
The Colts’ Rebuilding Strategy’s Central Element? Along with Mo Alie-Cox, Andrew Ogletree, Will Mallory, and Kylen Granson, the Colts’ tight end corps is solid. However, among them, Woods, who is physically gifted, has the greatest promise. Despite playing in just 334 snaps last season, Woods displayed moments of brilliance.
Woods is an impressively sized NFL tight end, standing at 6 feet 7 inches and 253 pounds. His 4.61 second 40 time at the NFL Scouting Combine is more evidence that he is a speed demon.
Shane Steichen, in his first year as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, is absolutely fantastic. With an 8-6 record and a shot at the playoffs, the overachieving Colts are under his wing. Considering they will be playing without their starting quarterback, Richardson, for the rest of the season, that is truly remarkable. On top of that, the squad has dealt with multiple suspensions and Taylor’s injury history has kept him in and out of the lineup.
Something extraordinary is being constructed by the young Colts. They have a slim chance of making the playoffs this year, but next year they could be a formidable opponent. Everything is possible with a fit Richardson and Taylor, Pittman Jr., Downs, and DeForest Buckner. Also, Indianapolis might be a top AFC seed in 2024 if Jelani Woods has a breakout year.
