LaMarr Woodley

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Pittsburgh Steelers
currentnumber=56
currentposition=Linebacker
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|12|3
birthplace=Saginaw, Michigan
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=266
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Pittsburgh Steelers
highlights=
* Lombardi Award (2006)
* Ted Hendricks Award (2006)
college=Michigan
draftyear=2007
draftround=2
draftpick=46
pastteams=
* Pittsburgh Steelers (2007-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=14
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=4.0
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=1
nfl=WOO324724

LaMarr Dewayne Woodley (born on November 3, 1984 in Saginaw, Michigan) is an American football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played collegiately for the University of Michigan.

High school career

Coming out of high school, Woodley was rated the #14 player in the country by Rivals and was recruited nationally by Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, USC, and many other schools. Woodley teamed with former Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers and Golden State Warriors point guard Anthony Roberson at Saginaw High School in 2000 to win Michigan's Division II state championship in football.

College career

Woodley played for the Wolverines at the University of Michigan. He predominantly played defensive end and sometimes linebacker, depending on the front seven's alignment. In 2006, Woodley was named the defensive captain of the Wolverines by his teammates. [cite web | title=Woodley, Long Elected 2006 Football Team Captains | accessdate=2006-08-21 | url=http://mgoblue.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=21821 | format=HTML | publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan | language=English] He collected 12 sacks as a senior and won the Lombardi Award as the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in the country. Playing off his defensive prowess, and especially the injuries incurred by quarterbacks Drew Stanton and Bryan Cupito while playing against Woodley, T-shirts were sold in Ann Arbor with the slogan, "Guns don't kill people. LaMarr Woodley kills people." [cite web | title=Thorns aplenty| accessdate=2007-08-18 | url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=1490253 | format=HTML | publisher=SportingNews.com | language=English]

National awards

* 2005 Co-MVP of Rose Bowl (split with Vince Young)
* 2006 Lombardi Award winner
* 2006 Ted Hendricks Award winner
* 2006 Chuck Bednarik Award finalist
* 2006 Lott Trophy quarterfinalist
* 2006 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlistcite web | title=Big Ten Places 30 Football Student-Athletes on Several National Award Watch Lists | accessdate=2006-07-07 | url=http://bigten.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/062906aac.html | format=HTML | publisher=CSTV.com | language=English]
* 2006 Outland Trophy watchlist
* 2006 First Team All-American

Conference honors

* 2004 All-Big Ten Conference Second Team (coaches) and Honorable Mention (media)
* 2005 All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention (coaches and media)
* 2006 All-Big Ten Conference First Team (coaches and media, both unanimous)
* 2006 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
* 2006 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year

Pro career

Woodley was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round with the 46th overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft. He originally wore Joey Porter's old number, 55, through out training camp, but after Steelers' center Chukky Okobi was cut, he took Okobi's old number, 56. He recorded his first sack in his second NFL game, as he sacked Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's 26-3 win over Buffalo. He recorded his second sack in three games, against Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers, in the fourth quarter of the Steelers' Week 3 37-16 win against the 49ers. In the 2008 season he is expected to start the outside linebacker position left vacant when the Steelers let former starter Clark Haggans sign with the Arizona Cardinals. Woodley is the biggest outside linebacker that the Steelers have ever had in their starting lineup. After a wonderful showing in Week 1 of the 2008 NFL Season, Woodley was named GMC Defensive Player of the Week. He recorded three tackles, a sack, an interception, a defended pass, and a fumble recovery in his first career start. [cite news |first= Gerry|last= Dulac|title= The Steelers in 2008: Lamarr Woodley|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08249/909572-66.stm|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= 2008-09-05|accessdate=2008-09-06]

In week 4 of the 2008 NFL Season he recorded his first professional touchdown on a fumble recovery against the Baltimore Ravens.

References

External links

* [http://www.lamarrwoodley56.com Official Website]
* [http://mgoblue.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=2148&section_id=258&top=2&level=3&season=983 Michigan Wolverines bio]
* [http://news.steelers.com/team/player/76323/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]