Junior safety Anthony Wooding Jr., who was a starter for the majority of the 2010 and 2011 season before being kicked off the Air Force team prior to 2012, will transfer to Wake Forest to conclude his college career. Wooding, a 6'2" 183 lb safety from Georgia, was removed from the Air Force team for an undisclosed violation of team rules. The violation was not believed to be a serious infraction and was likely related to Air Force's strict code of conduct.
Wooding will add depth to an already talented Wake Forest secondary, although it is unclear if he will be eligible to play right away. Wooding started eight games for the Falcons in 2011 and the final six games of 2010 in his freshman year. In 2010 he recorded 30 tackles, had one interception, two pass break ups, as well as a blocked punt against Colorado State. In his second year at Air Force Wooding recorded 57 tackles and one interception. Wooding was believed to be a frontrunner for the starting position moving forward into his junior year before he was one of five Falcon players kicked off the team prior to the first game of the 2012 season.
If Wooding is eligible to play right away he will be able to complete his final two years with Wake Forest. If he is unable to play this season he will only be able to play his senior year with the Demon Deacons in the 2014 football season. Regardless of when Wooding is able to take the field he will likely have an immediate impact. For the 2013 season he would likely make a strong push to start, challenging seniors Duran Lowe and A.J. Marshall for substantial playing time. Wooding will be a welcome addition to the secondary in general, particularly in the safety position where there have been some concerns about the depth behind Lowe and Marshall.
Wooding played under former Wake Forest assistant coach Troy Calhoun at the Air Force, and it is at least somewhat likely that Calhoun guided Wooding to Wake or at the very least mentioned Wooding to Grobe in passing. Let's give this young man a warm Wake Forest welcome as it is clear he will immediately help shore up the secondary as soon as he makes it onto the field.
