Inside The Panthers

Eagles Sign Former Pitt Starting CB

The Phialdelphia Eagles signed a former Pitt Panthers starting cornerback.

Dominic Campbell

Sep 17, 2022; Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers cornerback A.J. Woods (35) and Brandon George (30) celebrate beating the Western Michigan Broncos after the game at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kimberly Moss-Imagn Images
Sep 17, 2022; Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers cornerback A.J. Woods (35) and Brandon George (30) celebrate beating the Western Michigan Broncos after the game at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kimberly Moss-Imagn Images / Kimberly Moss-Imagn Images

PITTSBURGH -- The Philadelphia Eagles announced that they made two signings to their practice squad, including former Pitt Panthers starting cornerback A.J. Woods.

Woods came to Pitt out of Northwest High School in Germantown, Md. 247Sports rated him as a two-star, No. 35 recruit out of Maryland and No. 218 athlete in the Class of 2019, while Rivals rated him as a three-star prospect and No. 21 in his state. 

He played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2019, with five kickoff returns and three tackles on kickoff coverage.

Woods would play in all 11 games in the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season, with three starts at cornerback. He made 17 tackles (15 solo), one tackle for loss, one interception and three passes defended.

He played in 13 games in 2021, with one start coming in the Peach Bowl against Michigan State. He helped Pitt win their first ACC Championship that season, making 27 tackles (21 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, eight passes defended, one forced fumble, plus an interception in the ACC Championship game against Wake Forest.

Woods played in all 13 games the following season in 2022 and started five contests, as he made 28 tackles (19 solo), two tackles for loss, one interception and a career-high 14 passes defended. 

He would use his COVID-19 extra year of eligibility in 2023, playing in all 12 games and starting five of them. He had 30 tackles (15 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and four passes defended.

Woods spent five seasons with the Panthers from 2019-23, playing in 59 games and starting in 14 contests. He made 102 tackles (69 solo), 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, four interceptions, 25 passes defended and one forced fumble in his collegiate career.

He also earned a spot at the East-West Shrine Bowl, a postseason all-star game consisting of seniors across the country.

Woods impressed at the Pitt Pro Day in late March, recording times of 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 6.56 seconds in the three-cone drill, which would have ranked the fifth fastest and the fastest times at the NFL Combine for a cornerback, respectively.

The Commanders signed him as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) following the 2024 NFL Draft, but chose not to keep him on the 53-man roster, cutting him prior to the deadline at 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 27.

Woods also worked out for the New York Giants on Aug. 29 and the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 5, but did not sign a contract with etiher team.

The Eagles have two other former Pitt football alumni on their roster, in backup quarterback Kenny Pickett and defensive back Avonte Maddox.

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Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

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