5’6 White Running Back Runs for 158 Yards in NFL Game: No, Seriously

For those of you who haven’t been following the Jets roster religiously (not that I have…OK, maybe, so what), Woodhead has been a crowd favorite since day one. An undrafted free agent, the diminutive one, who’s the pride of North Platte, Nebraska is fighting a crazy uphill battle. Not only is he trying to make a roster of an NFL squad, he’s attempting to do so from a tiny school few have heard of on a team that boasts 2008 league-leading rusher Thomas Jones, all-purpose yards leader Leon Washington and 2nd round draft pick Shonn Greene out of Iowa. Oh yes, and he’s coming off a knee injury.

Not to say that Woodhead hasn’t proved folks wrong before. At DII Chadron, he crushed virtually every rushing record of any collegiate back. Like, ever. He rushed for more than 7,400 yards, reached the end zone 109 times and accumulated over 9,ooo-plus all-purpose yards, only former Villanova back and current Eagle Brian Westbrook has collected more in NCAA history.

Tonight, Woodhead showed glimpses of why he won the Harlon Hill (DII’s Heisman( two years straight. The kid has a burst. And, although some of the holes were massive, he managed to hit them time and again with nifty cuts and then show some breakaway wheels. When all was said and done, Woodhead may have had one of the more memorable preseason nights of an NFL back who may never actually make an NFL roster.

Prior to tonight’s game Eric Allen of Jets.com, ran the following story comparing the different mindsets and goals of the Eagles’ Vick and Jets’ Woodhead heading into the final exhibition game. When asked about Woodhead’s prospects for making the team (as Danny’s goals were focused on trying to secure a spot) Coach Ryan danced around the question probably knowing what most Jets fan figure is the case — that Woodhead is likely to be one of those “numbers game” casualties:

“To say will he make the team or not, I don’t know,” Jets head coach Rex Ryan about Woodhead. “It’s tough sledding — you’ve got three big-time backs in front of him. But Woodhead is a special guy. He’s tough, he’s got great hands, he’s a great competitor, so we’ll see how he does.”

Well, I can tell you one thing. The boy did good. Chances are it may not change his fate in terms of securing a roster spot on the 2009 Jets, but, at worst, it hopefully opened the eyes of some other personnel folks around the League. Here’s to Woodhead making an NFL roster. He’s made it this far, and I’m not going to bet against him. For one night at least, Danny Woodhead is making NFL headlines. Good stuff, dude. Good. Stuff.