The Tennessee Titans would not have been nearly as successful as they were on defense without the efforts of linebacker Wesley Woodyard.
But according to Ryan, his recent success shouldn’t be credited to himself alone. Mentors like Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins has been there for him every step of the way.
“For them to come and find the last guy on the roster and just mold him — and I’m talking about myself — and take me in as their little brother,” Woodyard said in a report by the team’s Jim Wyatt.
Dawkins consistently offered Woodyard words of encouragement.
“B-Dawkins, I’ll never forget he would say: ‘Wood, I see greatness in you, and I am going to pull it out of you.’ I was like, ‘Man, this is Brian Dawkins, I grew up watching him. This is Champ Bailey, I grew up playing tag football saying I am Champ Bailey.’”
“That was my mentor, and teammate right there,” Woodyard said.
Last season, Woodyard totaled 113 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two passes defensed.
On his career, Woodyard has recorded 909 tackles, 27 sacks, 30 passes defensed and eight interceptions. He’s been with the Titans for five of his 11 seasons, having spent time with the Denver Broncos before.
The Titans will hope the linebacker can carry this level of momentum into 2019 as the team looks to make another run for the playoffs.
