The son of 1 of Michigan’s greatest players and a college football legend is following in his father’s footsteps and headed to Ann Arbor.
“Like father like son: Charles Woodson Jr. has committed to the University of Michigan,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Friday. “He’s a four-star defensive back from Orlando (Fla.) Lake Nona who is the son of former Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson.”
Woodson led Michigan to a national championship and won the Heisman Trophy in 1997 as a cornerback/wide receiver/return specialist before he was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft.
He went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL, where he was an 8-time NFL All-Pro, 9-time Pro Bowler, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, as well as helping lead the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl win following the 2010 season. He also holds the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with an interception returned for a touchdown (6).
Woodson was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Charles Woodson Jr. Rated as 3-Star Recruit
Woodson Jr.. 5-foot-11 and 173 pounds, is rated as a 3-star recruit in the Class of 2027 by 247Sports and is listed as a safety.
From ESPN: “Michigan extended an offer last summer to Woodson Jr., a 5-foot-11, 160-pound defensive back from Orlando, Florida. Along with the Wolverines, he had offers from Florida State, Iowa State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Syracuse, and Texas A&M, among others.”
The recruitment of Charles Woodson out of Ross High School in Fremont, Ohio, in the mid-1990s is the stuff of legend. After being named a USA Today All-American and Mr. Ohio Football at running back, not only did he turn his back on his home state school, Ohio State, but he decided to go to the 1 school that wanted him to play cornerback and not running back.
“I think they have a genuine interest in junior, not because of dad,” Lake Nona head coach David Aubrey told On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “I think that’s going to be the storyline, dad-son, but they have a genuine interest in Charles and they showed that. The whole staff came down to see him in January. I never experienced that in coaching. Literally the whole staff came down. Pretty cool opportunity for him. Obviously he’s going to have big shoes to fill because the narrative will always be how well does he matchup compared to what his dad did. But I think he’s up for the challenge. He’s always been poised. And what’s really cool, his dad has never shown that he’s strongly influenced him to attend Michigan. He allowed him to choose his own path and that’s really cool.”
In 2025 at Lake Nona, Woodson Jr. helped lead his team to the Class 7A regional semifinals with 73 tackles, 8 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery, along with a kickoff return for a touchdown.
“Smart safety with best-in-class type of bloodlines that made noticeable strides between sophomore and junior campaigns,” 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins wrote. ” … should be viewed as a potential starter at the Power Four level based on what he put on tape as an 11th grader.”
Michigan Receives Commitment From Son of Heisman Trophy Winner