GAINESVILLE — Jayden Woods, by all accounts, is a man of multitudes. The standout defensive edge rusher rattles quarterbacks and intercepts passes. Off the field, he approaches life with humility, asking questions and checking on teammates.The Jekyll and Hyde personality can be widely found in linemen across the college and NFL ranks as their towering figures offset their gentler personalities. Woods is no exception. He’s made The Athletic’s and 247Sports’ freak lists after squatting 555 pounds and power cleaning 365.Most of Woods’ teammates, though, describe his positivity as equally important for the team. His ability to transition between a soft-spoken demeanor and terrorizing some of the best quarterbacks in college football kept the Gators (3-7, SEC 2-5) competitive in a year full of struggles.“It’s just a switch, you know,” Woods said. “You got to be able to turn it on and off.”Another strong performance from the multifaceted freshman will be vital to reigning in Tennessee’s explosive offense on Saturday night at the Swamp, as George Gumbs Jr. will miss the game after undergoing surgery on his right knee.“He’s done a fantastic job,” interim head coach Billy Gonazales said. “He’s only getting better.”Woods’ journey to the Gators involved multiple pit stops before he landed at Florida. Football wasn’t even his first love. Instead, the Kansas native played baseball as a pitcher and center fielder before injuring his leg. He transitioned into track and field and football at Mills Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas, winning 6A championship titles in shotput and discus.Nothing, however, could’ve prepared him more for this season than losing in the state quarterfinals to St. Thomas Aquinas after a Hail Mary secured a 23-22 victory over Mills Valley. The Gators’ highly-touted, four-star recruit used the moment as motivation.This season, with the losses mounting, Woods became even more determined. According to fellow edge rusher Kamran James, Woods texts teammates late into the night, asking what he can do to help the team win.“He’s a pro. Very intense,” James said. “He loves the game, he loves to work. That’s the hardest thing for some young players to do: fall in love with the grind after practice, the recovery, the extra film, things like that. And he’s already on it. That’s what puts him ahead of some other freshmen.”Despite the team’s struggles, Woods has played in every game this season, notching 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a pass breakup, two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. Against Ole Miss, Woods picked off quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in the first quarter, setting up a UF touchdown in the 34-24 loss.“Young guy stepped up,” linebacker Myles Graham said. “I’m proud of him as well. In that game, there’s a lot of momentum shifts, there’s a lot of stuff going on, it’s loud, and he stepped up and helped the team.”As Florida’s disappointing season winds down and the coaching search heats up, younger players like Woods must decide whether to continue playing in Gainesville or move on. The freshman, though, is planning to stick with the team.“Right now, I want to be a Gator,” Woods said. “I picked to come here to be a Gator. Didn’t come here with the intention to leave. Right now, I really just want to focus on finishing the last two games best I can.”
