The Indianapolis Colts selected Virginia tight end Jelani Woods with the 73rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft:
Welcome to Indy, @jelani_thegreat!#ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/o3y2ghUUSd
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 30, 2022
The massive 6’7”, 259 pound tight end caught 44 receptions for 598 receiving yards (13.6 ypr. avg.) and 8 touchdown receptions during 11 starts in 2021—earning First-Team All-ACC honors.
Having transferred from Oklahoma State to be featured more with the Cavaliers offensively as a receiving threat, Woods really blossomed during his senior season.
At his large size, he ran a 4.61 forty time and had 24 bench press reps and has drawn pro comparisons to current Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox (6’5”, 267 pounds)—except he’s even slightly taller and quicker. He had a pristine RAS of 10.0 out of a maximum of 10.0.
Woods should replace longtime veteran tight end Jack Doyle as the Colts ‘Y’ in-line blocker, who the Colts can feature as both a pass catcher and blocker. Doyle was an invaluable cog of the Indy offense given his versatility as a blocker and sure hands as a pass catcher.
Woods isn’t quite as athletic as he tests and can be a little stiff in his route running, but he moves well for his size, has fairly soft hands, and has the speed to separate down the seam—and he’s a load to bring down in the open field for opposing secondaries.
The Jelani Woods experience pic.twitter.com/isUNDZI9Xl
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 25, 2022
Virginia TE Jelani Woods would be such a good fit for the #Packers to replace Marcedes Lewis as the Y-TE
Remember he was at Oklahoma St for 3yrs before UVA. And his life was similar to Lewis in GB – all blocking and pass pro! Rarely given any looks or targets so he transferred pic.twitter.com/IfW1E3fGYa
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 23, 2022
Jelani Woods with an official 4.61 40-yard dash.
Large, rangy target. Over 70% of his receptions in 2021 resulted in a 1st down or TD. Physical blocker (zero penalties last season). He’s one of the top-10 best TEs in this class.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 3, 2022
Jelani Woods and Mo Alie-Cox in the same offense or we riot
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) April 21, 2022
watching the virginia offense is bewildering: There’s Jelani Woods, who is somehow a bigger human being than Mo Alie-Cox and wears #0, a 6-foot-4 WR who wears #99 (ffs) and takes handoffs from the backfield. and their QB is left handed
— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) April 13, 2022