St. Frances (MD) opens their 2023 season featured in one of the best games on the high school schedule when they travel to Georgia to take on Buford (GA), littered with Power Five talent and led by five-star Georgia verbal Dylan Raiola. If you ask Panthers’ 2025 four-star cornerback Blake Woodby, it’s the skill players who have his attention.
“I’m not really concerned about [Dylan] Raiola. I’m concern about the team in general,” Woodby added. “They’re good football players. In my opinion, Raiola is no different than Mike [Van Buren] so it’s just, I’m really going about scheme. I’m looking at the gameplan because I know it won’t be the same after the first quarter.”
Before he kicked off his junior season, the 5-foot-11, 180-pounds cornerback finally reached the point where he trimmed a 20-plus offer sheet into a top twelve with several of the nation’s top programs in the mix.
“I was supposed to drop it in the spring and I was fighting between a couple schools, but I came to a good conclusion,” Woodby added.
& then there where 12………. #SBG #Blessed @CoachJdubSFA @CoachMessay @RivalsFriedman @CraigHaubert pic.twitter.com/oSUcXPi5Ex
— Blake “Bobble” Woodby (@blake_woodby) August 8, 2023
Alabama, Arizona State, Boston College, Clemson, Maryland, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Rutgers, Stanford and Tennessee all made the cut and it won’t be much longer until fans see who remains in the mix this fall.
“I want to be as transparent as possible. After the 12, maybe after the second or third game, I’ll narrow it down to three or five. I’ll be ending my recruitment in the next couple of months,” Woodby added. “It might not even be the end of this year. It might be this season.”
Woodby visited Clemson back in April before making the trip to Columbus in July where the Buckeyes look to sign their first prospect out of the Baltimore powerhouse. “Just the family aspect they both have. Everybody is family oriented,” Woodby added about the Buckeyes.
Woodby returned to Baltimore then made the trip west to Oregon with his teammates and with four-stars Mike Van Buren and Ify Obidegwu already in the fold, along with the now expected move to the Big Ten beginning in 2024, the Ducks have become a factor in his recruitment.
“It was good just getting out there and building a relationship with my guy Demetrice Martin.”
Maryland made the cut, but they haven’t hosted him since the four-star made his way to College Park in the spring. Woodby knows why the Terps are still under consideration, though.
“It’s home. Home is always going to be home. It’s definitely going to be a no-brainer if I want to stay home. I know I have the opportunity to stay home so it’s definitely in the picture.”
Woodby knows which three schools he’ll see this fall.
“I’m definitely going to an Ohio State game. I’m going to USC vs. Notre Dame and then I’ll be making it to a Tennessee game.”
Blake Woodby is rated a composite four-star prospect, but is a three-star and an 89 overall by On3. Woodby is ranked the seventh-best prospect in Maryland and the nation’s 20th-best cornerback.
Related Links
Taulia Tagovailoa, Roman Hemby selected to more preseason watch lists
Maryland football position overview: linebackers
Mekhai White’s commitment ends longtime pursuit, gives unit big-play threat (+)
WR Mekhai White commits to Maryland, breaks down his decision
Maryland basketball stays perfect in Italy with 105-40 win vs. Bassano Pro All-Stars
