Woody Marks 2025 NFL Draft & Dynasty Profile
Woody Marks 2025 NFL Draft & Dynasty Profile
- Position: RB
- School: USC
- Class: Fifth-Year Senior
- Date of Birth: December 29, 2000
- Height: 5-10
- Weight: 210 lbs
Woody Marks Bio
Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks began his journey at Carver High School in Atlanta, Georgia. There, he ran for more than 6,000 yards and scored 59 career touchdowns. That earned him a four-star rating in the recruiting class of 2020. He received more than 20 offers from schools like Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and others. He opted to sign with Mississippi State where he started eight games as a true freshman and immediately set the school’s record for most receptions by a freshman and most by a running back in a single season with 60.
Marks continued to rack up incredible numbers as a pass catcher during his four years at Mississippi State. Before transferring to USC in 2024, Marks had run for 1,883 yards and 22 touchdowns while catching an insane 214 passes for more than 1,200 yards and five scores. He holds the Mississippi State record for most receptions in a career.
Marks led the Trojans backfield after making the jump to USC for his final year of eligibility. He set career highs in carries (198) and rushing yards (1,133) while scoring nine touchdowns on the ground. As a receiver, Marks caught another 47 balls for 321 yards. At season’s end, Marks was named second-team All-Big 10.
College Stats
Woody Marks college stats courtesy of sports-reference
Positives
- Speed
- Athleticism
- Receiving Skills
- 250+ career receptions
- Three-Down skill set
- Scheme Versatile
- Patience
- Elusiveness
- Explosive
- Acceleration
- 16% reception share (2020 & 2021)
Negatives
- Inconsistent Vision
- Below Average Contact Balance
- Underwhelming when asked to run with power/physicality
- Older prospect
- Pass Protection lacks strength & technique
Highlight Reel
Archetype: Slasher
NFL Comp: D’Andre Swift
Performance Score: Coming Soon
Draft Projection: Fifth/Sixth Round
NFL Draft & Dynasty Outlook:
Woody Marks is best known for his receiving prowess from his time at both Mississippi State and USC. He set school records for receptions—both career and single season—and he finished with more than 250 career catches. He has natural hands and can run all the routes from the backfield. Marks has the speed and athleticism to create a true mismatch and routinely beat linebackers in coverage. Once he has the ball in his hands, Marks turns into a dynamic playmaker who will slip past defenders with ease.
As a runner, Woody Marks displays good patience and footwork to navigate his way through open lanes and into the next level of the defense. Once he identifies the open hole, he will plant his foot in the ground and use his impressive burst and acceleration to explode through to the secondary. He has the speed to turn a chunk play into a long touchdown and the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field.
Where he is lacking is in power and overall play strength. Marks has the frame to be effective between the tackles and short yardage, but the lower body strength and leg drive just aren’t enough to be a true force in those situations. He also easily gets knocked off balance with arm tackles that many other backs would plow through with relative ease. We see some of these issues come up in pass protection as well. Marks is simply not good in pass pro. It’s not for a lack of will or effort, but he just doesn’t have the technique and physical strength to be effective in blocking blitzing linebackers and safeties. That’s especially concerning given the strength of his game is as a receiver. If he can’t be trusted in pass protection, it’s hard to envision him carving out a true role on passing downs.
Still, Marks has plenty to offer to an NFL offense. He has the size and skill set to be an effective runner both between the tackles and on outside carries. He offers scheme versatility and the explosive ability to turn short gains into long plays. Marks will be a dual-threat running back who can be a true weapon in the receiving game. Offensive play callers will appreciate his versatility and not being a guy who tips off a defense by his presence on the field—meaning defenders will have to equally respect the threat of the run and the pass when Marks is out there.
That should get him drafted some time in the middle rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft with the expectation of whoever selects him to deploy him as a high-end RB2/change-of-pace guy who specializes as a receiver out of the backfield but offers more when needed. Landing spot and draft capital will certainly play a factor in how we ultimately value him in dynasty rookie drafts. If he lands in a spot that projects to use him as a 1b type, then we can feel good about drafting him in the second round. Otherwise he’s probably a rookie third or fourth round flier with upside.
NEXT: Ollie Gordon 2025 NFL Draft & Dynasty Profile
RANKINGS | DYNASTY
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