Former Lincolnton High defensive standout James Woods is continuing the upward trajectory of his football career, transferring from Brevard College to Delaware State University for the 2025 season.
Woods spent the past three seasons at Brevard, a non-scholarship Division III program in the North Carolina mountains. He now moves to the Division I level, joining Delaware State, which competes in the FCS as part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), an HBCU league.
Before his time at Brevard, Woods spent his freshman season at Louisburg College — North Carolina’s lone junior college football program.
Woods had a standout 2024 campaign at defensive back, earning first-team all-conference honors. He intercepted four passes, broke up nine others, and recorded 31 tackles in seven games.
In October, D3Football.com named him to its National Team of the Week after he returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown and made five tackles in a 25-21 win over Huntingdon.
Across his Brevard career, Woods recorded 112 tackles, made five interceptions, defended 24 passes, forced three fumbles, blocked three kicks and returned a punt for a touchdown — all while not allowing a single receiving touchdown in either the 2023 or 2024 seasons.
Delaware State is rebuilding under new head coach DeSean Jackson, the former NFL star wide receiver. Woods will be part of that new era in 2025, bringing a proven track record and shutdown ability to the Hornets’ secondary.
The transfer portal can open doors for players to make jumps. Read more about former Southern Wayne standout E’Llya Boykin, who is transferring from D2 Barton College to Boston College.
