Josh Woodman Leads Nation In Interceptions

Chatham’s Josh Woodman isn’t playing nice this season with the Western University Mustangs football team. He’s stealing every ball he can from his opponents, and currently leads the nation in interceptions.

His 5 interceptions through 6 games with Western, put him atop all defensive players in interceptions in the CIS this season.

Woodman added to that total Friday, picking up two interceptions in a 61-20 Western Mustangs win over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

“I think that staying in London over the summer and training with the team really helped me this summer just being fully immersed in everything football,” says Woodman of his strong start. “I also had one of my good friends on the team, Kalvin Johnson take me under his wing and really show me the ropes of the defense. I owe a lot of my success to him.”

Woodman also has 13 solo tackles, and two assists for the 5-1 Western University Mustangs, who currently sit third in the OUA, behind only McMaster and Guelph.

A former star for the London Beefeaters and Chatham-Kent Cougars, Woodman played two regular season games last season, and three playoff games, but is getting his first real opportunity to shine in 2014 and thus far, is making the most of his chance.

“My coaches have given me the opportunity to succeed and I am trying to make the most it,” says Woodman, an Ursuline College Chatham graduate. “It feels great to lead the nation, but the season isn’t over yet and our main goal is winning the Vanier Cup game at the end of the year, so I am just trying to stay focused on that right now.”

Western and Josh Woodman are back in action October 18 when they travel to play the University of Guelph Gryphons. The Mustangs will close out their 2014 OUA football regular season October 25 at TD Stadium in London, Ontario, when they play host to their rival, the University of Windsor Lancers.