Xavier Woods

BIOGRAPHY

Xavier Woods was born on July 26, 1995, in Monroe, Louisiana. He is a safety in the NFL.

Woods attended West Monroe High School where he played at wide receiver as a freshman. He moved to defensive back as a sophomore and intercepted 6 passes, including 2 returned for touchdowns. He helped his team win a football state championship in his junior year, posting 43 tackles, 5 interceptions, 6 receptions for 233 yards, and 2 punt returns for 60 yards. In his last year, he received All-state, All-Northeast Louisiana, and All-district honors. He also practiced basketball.

Woods accepted a football scholarship from Louisiana Tech University. He started 10 games out of 12 as a true freshman at free safety, tallying 61 tackles (3 for loss) and 2 passes defensed. The next year, he posted 71 tackles (3.5 for loss), 7 passes defensed and 3 forced fumbles. He also had 6 interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in a win over the University of Illinois in the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl.

As a junior he took a step back, recording 56 tackles (7.5 for loss), 3 interceptions and 3 passes defensed. As a senior, he registered 89 tackles (6.5 for loss), 5 interceptions, and 6 passes defensed. He left after starting all but two games, making 181 tackles (20.5 for loss), 14 interceptions (third in school history), 18 passes defensed, 4 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 325 interceptions return yards (first in school history).

The Dallas Cowboys selected Woods in the sixth round (191st overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. On May 11, he was signed to a four-year, $2.55 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $159,888. Throughout training camp, Woods competed for a roster spot against Robert Blanton, Kavon Frazier, and Jameill Showers. Head coach Jason Garrett named him the backup free safety to Byron Jones to begin the regular season.

He made his professional regular-season debut in the Dallas Cowboys' season-opening 19-3 victory over the New York Giants. On September 25, Woods recorded three solo tackles and deflected a pass in the Cowboys' 28-17 victory at the Arizona Cardinals. He recorded his first career tackle on the opening kickoff on Cardinals' running back Kerwynn Williams after a 21-yard kick return. On November 12, he collected four combined tackles, defended a pass, and made his first career interception off a deflected pass from Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan during a 27-7 loss. 

The following week, Woods earned his first career start at strong safety after Jeff Heath suffered a concussion the previous week against the Falcons. He recorded five combined tackles as the Cowboys were routed by the Philadelphia Eagles 37-9. In Week 11, Woods earned the starting strong safety job and recorded three combined tackles during a 38-14 win against the Washington Redskins.

On March 30, 2021, Woods signed a one-year contract with Minnesota Vikings.

In March 2022, he signed a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers.