Peyton Woodyard excited about first game experience at Alabama
Peyton Woodyard, Top 100 safety from St. John Bosco in Bellflower, California, flipped his commitment from Georgia to Alabama on August 8. It was a difficult decision, but his heart eventually led him to school he always dreamed of playing and head coach he greatly admired.
Woodyard’s father, Gerald, is originally from Mobile. He has been on the West Coast for the majority of his life after moving to California in the second grade. Peyton took his first visit to the Capstone shortly after completing his freshman year of high school.
He earned an offer on June 7, 2021 after competing in the Nick Saban Football Camp. A return to Tuscaloosa did not happen again until April 13, 2023. The former Georgia commitment took his official visit on June 23-25, and less than two months later joined the 2024 Alabama recruiting class.
The Woodyard family, which will include Peyton and his parents, will travel back to Alabama this weekend for an unofficial visit. It will mark the first time any of them have attended a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium despite their long history of fandom for the Crimson Tide.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Woodyard told BOL. “It’s a dream come true for me to be able to go to a game.I know the stadium will be rocking. It will be a great game. I have my money on Bama, of course.”
Alabama, by its standards, has had a disappointing start to the season with a loss at home to No. 3 Texas and ‘too close for comfort’ win against South Florida. Woodyard plays for one of the top high school football program in America- the defending national champions.
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St. John Bosco suffered its first loss of the year against Kahuku (Hawaii) on Saturday. Tuli Tagovailo-Amosa, cousin of former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa, had an 18-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left in the game to help secure a 30-23 win for the home team.
Turnovers and failed opportunities to convert off of turnovers plagued the Braves throughout the game. Woodyard had an interception, his second of the season, but it wasn’t enough to help overcome the struggles. St. John Bosco still has goals in front of them which includes a state title.
It has an off week which allows the trip to Alabama this weekend before a three game stretch that includes Santa Margarita, Servite and then showdown against Mater Dei led by fellow Alabama commitment/Top 100 cornerback Zabien Brown.
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Woodyard is solid with Alabama
Peyton Woodyard with his parents, Nora and Gerald, during official visit to Alabama in June
Woodyard noted that he and Brown are best friends who speak every day. He attended the commitment ceremony in July when Brown announced for Alabama. The two along with other members of the recruiting class continue to believe in the program despite hearing from many about the start to the year.
“We are 100-percent behind ‘Bama,” he said. “Everyone is talking this or that about that. I think I saw another one of our commits (Jameer Grimsley) say, ‘Bama is still ‘Bama.’ They still are ‘Bama. They have the talent. It’s just a matter of molding it together.”
“Other schools are still trying to recruit me. Coach Lincoln Riley and Coach (Alex) Grinch from USC stay on me. Ohio State, Georgia and Texas are still talking to me. They are all good people, but I am not taking any other visits besides this trip to ‘Bama. I don’t have time for any that. I will arrive at Alabama in December as an early enrollee.”
Alabama secondary coach Travaris Robinson played an instrumental role in helping lure the No. 5 safety per the On3 Industry Ranking. Woodyard speaks with T-Rob daily whether it’s football, family of life in general discussion. He’s been impressed with the defense this fall.
“The defense is flying around,” Woodyard said. “I like seeing Caleb (Downs) make plays. He’s been balling out. The secondary is doing really good. The defense is still the ‘Bama defense. I am excited to see all the pieces come together. They haven’t reached their full potential yet. It’s scary to think how good they will be as the season progresses.”
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