Colby Wooden

Colby Wooden Bio

Colby Wooden (born December 21, 2000) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Wooden grew up in Lawrenceville, Georgia, where he developed into a highly decorated high school prospect before becoming a four-year letterman at Auburn University. The Green Bay Packers selected Wooden in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 116th overall pick. He has established himself as a promising young defensive tackle in the NFL, contributing to the Packers’ defensive line rotation since his rookie season.

Early Life and Background

Colby Wooden was born on December 21, 2000, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family relocated to Lawrenceville, Georgia, where he attended Archer High School. During his senior season at Archer, Wooden emerged as one of the top defensive prospects in the state, earning GHSA Region 8-AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year honors as selected by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His standout performance on the defensive line made him a three-star recruit coming out of high school.

Despite receiving interest from several major college programs including Clemson, Wooden chose to continue his football career at Auburn University, where he committed to play for the Tigers. His decision to join Auburn set the foundation for his development into an NFL-caliber defensive tackle.

Path to Professional Football

Wooden arrived at Auburn University in 2019 and began his college career with the Tigers. His freshman season was significantly impacted when he contracted mononucleosis, which caused him to miss much of the year. He appeared in only three games during his freshman campaign, recording four total tackles. The illness provided an early test of his resilience and determination to succeed at the collegiate level.

Wooden bounced back strongly during his redshirt freshman season, showcasing his potential with 42 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. His production continued to improve, and by his redshirt sophomore year, he recorded 61 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Following his sophomore season, Wooden considered entering the 2022 NFL Draft but ultimately decided to return to Auburn for his redshirt junior year to further develop his skills and stock.

Colby Wooden Career

Draft and Green Bay Packers Beginning (2023)

The Green Bay Packers selected Colby Wooden in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 116th overall pick, recognizing his potential as an athletic defensive tackle with college production. The selection addressed a need for youth and depth along the Packers’ defensive line. Wooden signed his rookie contract on May 5, 2023, officially beginning his professional football journey.

Transitioning from the college game to the NFL presented its own challenges, but Wooden’s experience at Auburn against high-level competition prepared him for the speed and physicality of professional football. The Packers’ defensive coaching staff worked to refine his technique and maximize his effectiveness as a run defender and interior pass rusher.

Green Bay Packers Development (2024–2025)

Wooden continued to develop throughout his second NFL season, seeing increased playing time within the Packers’ defensive line rotation. His college experience at Auburn provided him with a solid foundation of technique and football intelligence that translated well to the professional level. The coaching staff valued his versatility along the interior of the defensive line.

Throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Wooden steadily contributed to the Packers’ defense, showcasing his ability to penetrate pockets, stop the run, and collapse the pocket from the interior. His progress from raw rookie to reliable contributor demonstrated his work ethic and adaptability to the NFL game. The Packers organization viewed him as a key piece of their defensive future.

Defensive Tackle Skills and Strengths

Wooden plays the defensive tackle position with excellent size at 6 feet 4 inches and 273 pounds, giving him the ability to anchor against run plays while also possessing enough quickness to pressure quarterbacks from the interior. His background at Auburn, where he faced varied offensive schemes in the SEC, prepared him to handle different blocking schemes and assignments. He demonstrates solid hand technique and body control that allow him to shed blocks and make plays in the backfield.

Notable Moments and Progression

Throughout his time with the Green Bay Packers, Wooden accumulated meaningful statistical contributions, including 87 career tackles, half a sack, and three pass deflections through the 2025 season. His progression from a fourth-round draft pick to a consistent contributor on an NFL defensive line represents the type of value the Packers sought when they selected him in 2023. Each season brought increased responsibility and refined technique.

Colby Wooden Career Statistics

Wooden has established himself as a reliable defensive tackle through his first several NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, accumulating meaningful statistics across multiple categories. His career totals reflect his role as a rotational interior defender capable of both stopping the run and applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks.

NFL Career Highlights

Through the 2025 season, Wooden has recorded 87 total tackles at the NFL level, demonstrating his consistent ability to be around the football. He has contributed half a sack and three pass deflections, showcasing his versatility as both a run defender and interior pass rusher. These statistics underline his value as a developmental defensive tackle with a promising career trajectory ahead.

College Career Summary

Before joining the NFL, Wooden was a four-year contributor at Auburn University from 2019 to 2022. He appeared in 42 games across his college career, finishing with 107 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. His progression year-over-year demonstrated his ability to develop and adapt, culminating in his selection as a fourth-round NFL Draft pick.

Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Public records do not provide detailed information about Colby Wooden’s family background, parents, or siblings. As he continues to establish himself in the NFL, additional personal details may become available through official profiles or interviews.

Personal Life

Wooden maintains a public presence on Instagram under the handle @cwoodvii. He has not publicly disclosed information regarding a spouse or children as of the 2025 season. Wooden completed his education at Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia, before earning his degree from Auburn University, where he played college football from 2019 to 2022.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 NFL season marked an important chapter in Colby Wooden’s developing career with the Green Bay Packers. Entering his third professional season, Wooden had earned a more defined role within the team’s defensive line rotation. The Packers’ coaching staff continued to trust him with increased snaps as the interior pass rush and run defense remained priorities for the franchise.

Throughout the 2025 season, Wooden’s contributions were evident in his tackle totals and presence against both the run and pass games. His experience from two previous NFL seasons showed in his decision-making and technique. The Packers’ defensive scheme utilized his abilities to create pressure up the middle while maintaining gap integrity against opposing running attacks.

Looking ahead, Wooden’s trajectory suggests continued growth within the Packers’ organization. At 25 years old as of 2025, he represents a young asset for a team seeking to build a competitive defense. His draft pedigree, college production, and early NFL experience position him as a player to watch as he continues to develop his craft at the professional level.