NFF National Scholar-Athletes
OL – Johns Hopkins University (MD)
3.65 GPA – Economics
Head Coach: Greg Chimera | Athletics Director: Jennifer S. Baker
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. William Smedick
A First Team All-American on and off the field, JR Woods "stands out as exceptional among the exceptional" and "embodies all that is right with college football," according to his head coach Greg Chimera. The Saddle River, New Jersey, native becomes Johns Hopkins' second NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
A 2021 First Team Academic All-American and Academic All-District honoree, Woods maintains an impressive 3.65 GPA in economics. On pace to graduate in May 2023, he plans to pursue either an MBA or a master's in finance. The 2021 Centennial Conference Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year is a member of the conference academic honor roll and the Dean's List.
This season, Woods has captained the No. 6 Blue Jays to a 7-0 record, and they sit tied atop the Centennial Conference standings with a 6-0 record in conference play. He anchors an offense that leads the conference in total yards per game (531.4), rushing yards per game (249.1) and points per game (50.1) while sitting second in passing yards per game (282.3). The total yards and points per game stats are good for sixth and fifth in all of Division III, respectively.
Named a First Team All-American in 2021 during his first season as a starter after transferring from Tufts (MA), Woods led the Blue Jays to a 10-2 record and a conference co-championship. The 2021 First Team All-Centennial Conference selection anchored an offensive line that helped set school records for points per game (46.5) and passing yards per game (346.8), which ranked eighth and third in the nation, respectively. While the Blue Jays advanced to the second round of the DIII Playoffs and a No. 13 final ranking, Woods' other 2021 accolades included D3football.com First Team All-Region and Johns Hopkins' Outstanding Junior Male Athlete across all sports.
Preparing for his future career in finance, Woods worked over the summer as an investment banking analyst at Stifel Financial, and he previously worked as a real estate investment analyst for Clearview Real Estate Partners. He has volunteered at the Johns Hopkins Food pantry, participated in the Be the Match bone marrow registration drive and aided special needs adults through the Best Buddies Club. During the COVID pandemic, Woods was an assistant factory manager at AJ Siris Products Corporation, helping manufacture and distribute more than one million masks.
