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PROVO — BYU's offensive revamp begins now, with the formal hiring of TJ Woods.
The offensive line coach has stops that include UNLV, Utah State (on two separate occasions), Oregon State and Wisconsin.
The Cougars announced the 20-year veteran of college football as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Thursday, after Georgia Southern wrapped up its season against Ohio in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. News of the hire first emerged earlier in the week through ESPN's Pete Thamel.
"My wife, Kelly, and I are excited to get back to our roots in Utah and join the BYU family," Woods said in a statement from the program. "It's a program with such a rich history of tradition and success. We cherish the opportunity to work for such an outstanding person and football coach in Kalani Sitake and we are eager to get to work."
With the Eagles' 41-21 loss to 10-3 Ohio in the rear-view mirror, the 43-year-old Woods can begin work at BYU, which released former coach Darrell Funk (along with tight ends coach Steve Clark) following a 5-7 inaugural season in the Big 12. In one season at Georgia Southern, Woods coached All-Sun Belt honorees in first-team selection Khalil Crowder and second-teamer Rasheed Miller along the offensive line.
Woods was most recently the offensive line coach and run-game coordinator for the past year at Georgia Southern, a year after moving from UNLV as offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator.
During his time with the Rebels, Woods helped the program average nearly 6 more points per game than previously, and produced a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in back-to-back seasons — including Aidan Robbins, who recently declared for the NFL draft after finishing his collegiate career at BYU.
In 2019, Woods helped Utah State's offense break school records with 315 passes completed and 504 passes attempted, and finished with the program's second-most passing yards of 3,628.
A year earlier, he powered a Western Kentucky offense to 75.9 yards per game, the eighth-best mark nationally, and an increase of 1.7 yards per carry, the fifth-best improvement in the country at the time. His line also allowed 16 fewer sacks in 2018 than 2017, the 10th-best improvement in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Following his time in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Woods was a key piece of Gary Andersen's staff beginning in 2009 as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, through a two-year stint at Wisconsin as offensive line coach, and for three years at Oregon State culminating in a run-game coordinator title.
He also spent time at Wisconsin leading a group that piled up 320.1 yards per game in 2014, blocking for All-American running back and Doak Walker Award winner Melvin Gordon's 2,587 rushing yards — the second-most in a single season in FBS history.
"TJ came highly recommended by multiple offensive coordinators and head coaches that he has worked for," BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said. "He is a terrific coach that comes here with a reputation as a great technician that has had success running the ball from many different offensive systems. TJ is also a relentless recruiter that has proven he can develop offensive linemen and prepare them for the NFL."
In BYU, Woods inherits an offensive line that will be replacing a third straight NFL draft-bound offensive tackle in Kingsley Suamataia, as well as seniors Paul Maile and Simi Moala. Under Roderick, the Cougars ranked 118th in the FBS in total offense with 309.8 yards per game, and were 118th nationally in rushing offense with 104.3 yards per game.
The Cougars got a boost this week when center Connor Pay announced he was returning for his senior season. Oklahoma State transfer Caleb Etienne also said he wants to return to BYU for his final season of eligibility, and Brayden Keim told the coaching staff that he plans on returning for his senior year in 2024, as well.
Excited to welcome Coach Woods to the family 🤙 pic.twitter.com/IowjQcid4s
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 21, 2023
The trio would return more than 70 games of experience, including 50-plus starts over five years, along the offensive line.
The Cougars are also expected to lead tailback LJ Martin, a rising sophomore who ran for a team-high 546 yards and four touchdowns in 2023; backup Miles Davis, a fifth-year junior who broke out in 2022 with 225 yards before playing in just five games last year; and potentially Hinckley Ropati, whose senior season in 2023 was cut short by an ACL injury sustained during training camp.
But they'll need significant improvement in the run game and in the trenches to compete in the Big 12, which will swell to 16 teams next year after losing Texas and Oklahoma and adding Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah.
That's where Woods comes in, or at least, that's the hope. His pedigree includes 11 offensive linemen in the NFL, including Tyler Larsen. The former Jordan High and Utah State standout from Salt Lake City is in his ninth season in the NFL while starting at center for the Washington Commanders.
"TJ coaches his players the right way with great technique, fundamentals, toughness, and has proven it in multiple places," Sitake said. "He really loves his boys and helps them increase their football IQs while coaching them into consistent NFL draft picks wherever he has been. I am looking forward to having him and his family with us."
