Maurice’s success extended to college, where he won two NAIA national championships at Marian University. Woodard’s oldest brother, Aaron, also had a stellar high school career, helping West Lafayette win a state title in 2009.
In high school, Tavion Woodard played the same position as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis, who later became a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Despite helping West Lafayette win a state title as a senior in 2018, Woodard wasn’t heavily recruited. His only FBS scholarship offer came from Ball State.
After a productive career at Ball State, Woodard joined Boise State in January, determined to make the most of his final season of eligibility. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Indiana native was excited to be part of the Broncos.
“This is a great program,” Woodard said. “They showed me love, treated me like family, and showed me that if I work hard and handle my business on and off the field, I’ll be able to contribute.”
Woodard’s underdog mentality was shaped by his early experiences. Chasing his older brothers around helped him develop the determination needed to chase quarterbacks. This drive led to 83 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 42 games at Ball State.
“Every pass rush starts with the get-off,” he explained. “It’s like playing chess with the offensive tackles. You have to play off of them and always trust and believe in yourself.”
Playing alongside rising stars like Karlaftis also benefited Woodard. In high school, he often won one-on-one matchups while Karlaftis was double- and triple-teamed. Woodard recorded nine sacks during his final two high school seasons, including one in West Lafayette’s 2018 Class 3A state championship game.
“To be honest, Tavion was probably a better football player than George at the time,” said West Lafayette coach Shane Fry. “Tavion had played most of his life, and George was still learning the game. Tavion really found himself as an athlete and a leader his junior year, and he was a huge part of our state title run in 2018.”
Karlaftis, who was born in Greece and moved to the U.S. as a teenager, quickly adapted to football. He finished high school with 41 career sacks and had a standout college career at Purdue. In the NFL, Karlaftis helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII with 10.5 sacks last season. Woodard credits Karlaftis for influencing his pass-rushing skills.
“I learned a lot of speed and power moves from him and how to keep that motor going,” Woodard said.
At Boise State, Woodard lines up next to another rising star, Ahmed Hassanein, who also didn’t grow up playing football. Hassanein was born in the U.S. but moved back from Egypt at 16 and quickly made an impact. Last season, he became the first Bronco to finish with more than 10 sacks since 2019, posting 12.5 sacks.
“Ahmed has a different animal in him,” Woodard noted. “His leadership stands out, he’s a hard worker, and he’s proven he’s accountable.”
Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson sees Woodard as a key player this season, complementing Hassanein.
“Tavion learned and grew a lot in the spring, and he had a great summer,” Danielson said. I tell the guys all the time, ‘You are what you put on tape,’ and Tavion has certainly put in the work.”
Woodard is also familiar with Boise State’s new safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator, Tyler Stockton, who was his defensive coordinator at Ball State. Stockton praises Woodard’s tireless work ethic and complete defensive skills.
“He’s not a big talker,” Stockton said. “He puts his head down and just works, and he really fits this program. He showed at Ball State that he can be physical against the run and get after the quarterback when needed.”
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As Woodard embarks on his final collegiate season, he’s ready to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight, building on his family’s legacy and the influence of NFL stars like Karlaftis.
