#11 PJ Woodland Season 2026
Fast-rising cornerback who teams with sophomore DJ Pickett to give LSU one of the nation’s top cornerback tandems heading into the 2026 season … Started all 13 games at cornerback and ranked No. 8 in the SEC in passes defended (11) and No. 9 in pass breakups (9) … Tremendous coverage skills with great defensive awareness … Excels in man-to-man coverage … Great ball skills … Rarely comes off the field as he played a total of 614 defensive snaps in 2025 …Has allowed only 1 passing TD in coverage in his 2 years at LSU … Helped LSU rank No. 3 and No. 24 in the nation in pass efficiency defense … LSU was only team in the SEC to have more interceptions (17) than touchdown passes allowed (14) … For career, has appeared in 26 games with 15 starts … 61 career tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, a sack, 12 pass breakups, 14 passes defended and 2 interceptions … Majoring in interdisciplinary studies.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2025)
Starter in all 13 games at cornerback … Played opposite corner from LSU unanimous All-America Mansoor Delane … Helped LSU defense lead the SEC in interceptions (17) and passes defended per game (5.31) … The Tigers were No. 2 in the SEC in passes defended with 69 and No. 4 in passes broken up … As a unit, LSU ranked No. 3 in the SEC in pass efficiency and they were the only team in the league to have more interceptions (17) than touchdown passes allowed (14) … Individually, ranked No. 8 in the SEC in passes defended with 11 and No. 9 in pass breakups with 9 … Didn’t allowing a passing TD in coverage all season … Gave up 20 receptions for 331 yards in coverage … Limited his coverage receiver to only 13 first downs with just 1 coming over the final 4 games of the season … Tallied 41 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Added 2 interceptions with his first career interception coming at Ole Miss … Other interception came against Western Kentucky … Interception against Ole Miss came in third quarter at LSU 22-yard line, returned it 31 yards and eventually led to a field goal, pulling the Tigers to within 17-13 … Had career-best 6 tackles on 3 occasions (at Clemson, at Ole Miss, vs. Houston in the Texas Bowl) … Had first career sack against Clemson … Sack went for a 12-yard loss on third-and-8 and forced a Clemson punt in the first quarter … Credited with a pass breakup in 8 games with career-best 2 coming at Alabama.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2024)
Appeared in all 13 games with 2 starts (Nicholls, South Alabama) … Finished first season at LSU with 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 3 pass breakups … Played a total of 174 defensive snaps with 114 coming in coverage … Season-best 41 snaps vs. South Alabama in week 5 and then against Baylor in Texas Bowl … Allowed only 1 receiving TD in 114 coverage opportunities (vs. UCLA) … Made LSU debut vs. Southern Cal, playing 9 defensive snaps … Made Tiger Stadium debut the following week with 4 tackles, including a tackle for a 2-yard loss, a forced fumble and fumble recovery vs. Nicholls … Had 3 tackles and a half-tackle for loss in other start vs. South Alabama … Set a career-best with 5 tackles and a pass breakup in Texas Bowl win over Baylor … Other pass breakups came vs. Southern Cal and Ole Miss … Added 3 tackles vs. Ole Miss.
HIGH SCHOOL
Rated as a 4-star cornerback by Rivals … Listed with 3-stars in the On3 composite … Ranked as high as No. 28 nationally at his position and No. 9 overall in Mississippi by Rivals … Multi-sport athlete who also plays basketball … Played on both sides of the ball and at multiple positions in the secondary … Had over 1,300 receiving yards as a senior on his way to being named the Mississippi 7A Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 … Played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game … As a junior in 2022, tallied 38 tackles and intercepted 7 passes … Recorded 52 tackles, 5 interceptions, returning 2 for touchdowns in 2023 … Named to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger Large School All-State team in 2023 … Led Oak Grove to the Mississippi 7A state title as a senior.
PJ Woodland’s Career Highs
Tackles: 6, 3x (Last: vs. Houston, 2025 Texas Bowl; First: at Clemson, 2025)
Tackles for Loss: 1.0, 2x (Last: at Clemson, 2025; First: vs. Nicholls, 2024)
Sacks: 1.0 at Clemson, 2025
Interceptions: 1, 2x (Last: vs. Western Kentucky, 2025; First: at Ole Miss, 2025)
Pass Breakups: 2 at Alabama, 2025