Dustin Woodard

Classroom

Dustin Woodard holds a 3.445 GPA in management. He is a Tiger Scholar, which is awarded to those with a 3.0 GPA and recognized with a patch on their football jersey. Woodard is a two-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team member and was listed to the Dean’s List in 2018. Additionally, Woodard was named to the Tiger 3.0 Club for the Fall 2017, Spring 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters.

Character

A 2019 team captain, Woodard made the switch from guard to center this season. When asked about his transition and leadership, Head Coach Mike Norvell said, “We asked Dustin to make a position change this year heading into his senior season. That he is making the move after a first-team, all-conference honor last year at guard says a lot about his commitment to this football team. He is one of just two returning starters on our offensive line, a unit that was a Joe Moore Award semifinalist last year, and he will be a key part of this team’s success with this move to center this year. That change meant Dustin has needed to go from leading by example to taking on a more vocal role, and he spent all spring and all of fall camp becoming the leader this unit is going to need. Off the field, Dustin is one of our team leaders and is a frequent volunteer for various community service activities that we bring to the team. He has done everything from building kids’ beds, to helping Spanish-speaking families at the animal shelter adopt a pet to dressing up to entertain kids on a hospital stay.”

Community

Woodard has been a frequent volunteer for the LeBonheur Children’s Hospital visits the football team does and will be part of an upcoming reading activity with the Shelby County School District. Research finds that if children are not reading at grade-level by third grade, they are likely to be behind for the rest of their academic careers. The SCS district was excited to hear that Woodard was joining his teammates in reading books on video for children to read along since Woodard will be one of two Tigers reading on video in Spanish

Woodard has also participated in various activities with St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Ashley Furniture’s Dare to Dream project, through which children participate in an all-day clinic and get surprised with a brand-new bed and bedding at the end of the day. He has also been part of various school visits to promote education, and he has spent the last few years volunteering with the local area Boy’s and Girl’s Club and with Memphis Animal Services.

Competition

Woodard blocked for three of the top four offenses in program history that compiled over 20,000 total yards. He has started in 38 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in the FBS coming into 2019.

In 2018, he blocked on an offensive line that was a part of the most prolific offense in program history with a school-record 7,324 yards and 76 TD. The 2018 offense ranked among FBS leaders in scoring (7th; 42.9 ppg), total offense (4th; 523.1 ypg) and rushing offense (4th, 279.9 ypg). The offense also had a 3,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard rushers and a 1,000-yard receiver for the first time in school history.

In 2017, Woodard was a part of the second-most prolific offense in program history with 6,917 yards and 72 TD. That year’s offense ranked among FBS leaders in scoring (2nd; 45.5 points), total offense (4th; 532.1 ypg) and passing offense (7th; 335.0 ypg). He also blocked for an offense that had a 4,000-yard passer (Riley Ferguson), 1,000-yard rusher (Darrell Henderson) and 1,000-yard receiver (Anthony Miller) for the first time in program history.

In 2016, Woodard played every snap in the season’s final nine contests. He was a member of the 2016 Memphis offense that is fourth in program history for total yards (6,028) and points (505).

For his career, Woodard has earned a 2018 first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection, a 2016 247Sports.com True Freshman All-America Team nod and was named to the Outland Trophy and the Rimington Trophy Watch Lists in 2019.