Illinois State redshirt senior Landon Woodard (68) appears on multiple FCS preseason players to watch lists after shining in his 16 starts for the national runner-up Redbirds last year. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
NORMAL – While Illinois State fans and alumni are still frolicking in last season’s near FCS national championship, offensive lineman Landon Woodard isn’t looking back.
In fact, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Woodard has yet to watch a replay or game film of ISU’s 35-34 overtime loss to Montana State.
“Have I?” Woodard paused at the question. “No, I have not. I try to keep away from it. I see it as a learning experience, but it’s something that left a bad taste in my mouth. It’s fuel to my fire this year for getting back there.”
Should Illinois State make a return trip to Nashville’s FirstBank Stadium, Woodard will likely play a key role.
The Waukesha (Wis.) West High School graduate has been named to numerous preseason All-American watch lists after starting 16 games for the Redbirds last fall.
Woodard was recognized as the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week last November after a 31-16 win against Northern Iowa.
Woodard shares his passion for the ISU run game, the toughest defensive player he went against last fall, along with what he misses most about Wisconsin.
As for his home state, the redshirt senior surprisingly reveals he’s not a Green Bay Packers fan.
Get to know Woodard in our weekly Moving the Chains Q&A.
You’ve been listed on a variety of preseason players to watch and All-American lists. Does any one of them mean more than another?
Not particularly. A lot of it I take as I’m proud of it, but I don’t feel that it reflects what I’ve done for the upcoming season. We haven’t played a snap yet. It’s a good feeling that there are people out there that have me (on the) first team, second team, that kind of stuff. My own personal opinion is that I haven’t put in the work yet to earn it. The postseason accolades mean more to me than the preseason.
ISU has a good portion of its running game back this season. What does that mean to this offense?
It means a lot, especially to the offensive line. We have a great group of backs behind us. It means a lot that we can rally behind the run game. We’ll be able to utilize that threat this year. It’s a very prideful thing in the offensive line room.
Do you get more satisfaction driving an opponent off the ball on a run play or keeping the quarterback safe in pass protection?
Any offensive lineman is going to say driving someone off the line of scrimmage.
What does playing for the national championship a season ago do for your personal confidence and for the team?
It shows the guys that we can do it, but it’s something we talked about in our leadership group. We haven’t done anything yet. This is a brand new team. This is a brand new year. Last year is last year. We’ve got to go do it again. We’ve got to earn every game and every win. We’ve got to get back there.
You competed in track and field along with wrestling in high school. Do you miss those sports?
Not really the track and field part. I pretty much did that because I was big and they said I could throw far. Wrestlers, those are some tough guys. But, I love football. I’m here.
That said, how did wrestling help you with football?
With recruiting, a lot of coaches bring up how wrestling helps you to stay low (in your stance). It kind of mirrors the trenches of football. You’re going against another big guy, and you’ve got to move him. He doesn’t want to be moved, but you’ve got to move him. Wrestling is very reflective of the (offensive line) position.
Who was the toughest defensive opponent you went against last season?
(All-American DL) Kaleb Proctor from Southeastern Louisiana (in the playoffs). That guy was a beast and definitely someone we had to gameplan for.
I wasn’t able to play in the North Dakota State game (because of injury), but those guys are always tough up front.
What’s something that you miss about your home state of Wisconsin?
It sounds funny, but it’s the cheese curds (laughs). Yes, the cheese curds. But, this place (Normal and Illinois State University) is another home to me. I don’t miss home too much, other than going back to see family. But, the cheese curds (laughs).
Do your teammates give you a hard time about being from Wisconsin?
Not really, we have a whole group of guys pulled from different areas and places.
Are you a Green Bay Packers fan?
No, this is kind of crazy and a lot of people don’t expect this, but I’m a 49ers fan.
Really? How is that the case?
I was a bandwagon fan when I was way little, back when (Colin) Kaepernick was around and I stuck with it through Jimmy G and now Brock Purdy. And of course, being an O-line guy, there’s Trent Wiliams at left tackle.
What’s the best experience you had this summer away from football?
One thing we really focus on is the team’s cohesion. If you know the guys next to you and that you’re playing for, you’re going to play better. You’re stronger and faster. This summer we did a really good job of getting together outside of football. We got to know each other better as a team and one on one. I really appreciate that. It gets you through the tough times, like a bad practice. These are my brothers. This is why I do it.
Tell us about your family.
I have two brothers, an older one and a younger one, and my mom and stepdad. They’re very supportive. They’re always in my corner.
Did or do your brothers play sports?
My older brother wrestled. He’s the reason why I got into that. He played football for a little bit, but he was more of a wrestler. My younger brother is into both sports.
What do you like to do to get away from football?
I enjoy fishing. It’s a big part of my off time. That, and cooking. It’s not Gordon Ramsay-style cooking, but I like to create fine meals that are easy to make on the fly. I watch a bunch of body builders (on social media) and what they meal prep for and how they put on weight but eat clean at the same time.
What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever caught?
I like to carp fish. Not a lot of guys do. I feel like I do my part of cleaning up because they’re an invasive species in Wisconsin. I like carp fishing and getting them out of the water. They’re bottom feeders, so they get huge. It’s always a good fight reeling them in. The biggest one I’ve ever caught? It was around 10 or 12 pounds.
What are your plans beyond college football?
Any guy who is playing and really loves it wants to go to the next level and go pro. I’ll explore that and try to prove myself there, but I’ve always aspired to be in law enforcement.
Circling back to last year’s national championship game, do you think some day you will watch the game film?
Yeah, eventually. I’ll get to it eventually, but not right now. Not in the near future.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
Find us on social media!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin
Blue Sky: PSPigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment