| Lawrence Woods | |
| Team: | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Status: | 6-game injured list |
| Import: | yes |
| Position1: | Defensive back |
| Position2: | return specialist |
| Birth Date: | 9 April 1998 |
| Birth Place: | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Number: | 37 |
| College: | Truman State |
| High School: | McCluer South (Ferguson, MO) |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 9 |
| Weight Lbs: | 180 |
| Playing Team1: | New Orleans Saints |
| Playing Team2: | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Playing Team3: | BC Lions |
| Playing Years4: | –present |
| Playing Team4: | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Career Footnotes: | |
| Career Highlights: |
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| Cfl: | lawrence-woods-iii |
Lawrence Woods III[1] (born April 9, 1998) is an American professional football defensive back and return specialist for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Truman State. He has also been a member of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL), and the BC Lions of the CFL.
Woods played high school football at McCluer South High School in Ferguson, Missouri, and was a two-year starter.[2] He also participated in track and wrestling, and was a member of the National Honor Society in high school. He was a member of the 4x400 meter relay team that won the state title.[3]
Woods played played college football for the Truman Bulldogs of Truman State University. He played in 10 games his freshman year in 2016, recording 19 tackles and three interceptions while also returning three kickoffs for 145 yards and one touchdown.[4] [3] He did not appear in any games in 2017, and was redshirted.[4] Woods played in 11 games during the 2018 season, totaling 43 tackles and two sacks while also returning 12 kickoffs for 609 yards and three touchdowns, earning GLVC Special Teams Player of the Year and D2CCCA All-America recognition as a kick returner.[4] [3] He only played in four games in 2019 due to a torn ACL.[5] [4] He did not appear in any games during COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.[4] [3]
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Woods signed with the New Orleans Saints on May 14, 2021. He was waived on August 2, re-signed on August 13, and waived again on August 18, 2021.[6]
Woods was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on April 21, 2022.[6] He was placed on injured reserve on August 25, and activated from injured reserve on October 6, 2022.[6] He dressed in 14 games, starting one, during the 2022 season, returning 43 kickoffs for 990 yards and one touchdown, and 62 punts for 807 yards while also making three defensive tackles and nine special teams tackles.[4] [7] [8]
Woods was moved between injured reserve, the practice roster, and the active roster several times in 2023.[6] Overall, he dressed in seven games, starting four, returning 13 kickoffs for 277 yards and recording 20 defensive tackles and two special teams tackles.[4] [7] He was released by the Tiger-Cats on November 5, 2023.[6]
Woods signed with the BC Lions of the CFL on December 4, 2023. He was released on May 2, 2024.[6]
Woods was signed with the Tiger-Cats again on May 6, 2024.[6] [9]