Jayden Woods Confirms Reason Behind Florida Return As Jon Sumrall Wins Over Family

Florida edge rusher Jayden Woods was a standout for the Gators last season, recording 27 tackles (11 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 1 interception. His performance attracted attention from Texas, which pursued him during the offseason.

Woods ultimately chose to remain in Gainesville and play for new head coach Jon Sumrall, who developed a plan to keep him through the 2026 season.

Jayden Woods Reveals Jon Sumrall’s Efforts That Paved the Way for His Return

The 6’3″, 244-pound Woods decided to stay in Florida after Sumrall made key moves that indicated the new coaching staff wanted him on the team next season.

The edge rusher said a Zoom call, which discussed the playbook Sumrall will implement next season, helped convince him to stay in Gainesville. Then, the coach flew to his hometown of Shawnee, Kansas, on a private jet to spend time with his family, further solidifying his decision.

“The biggest thing for me was how they interacted with me and my family. We barely talked about football when they were there, and that was the biggest thing for me,” Woods said.

“They really got to know my family, coach Sumrall said my grandpa’s still sending him pictures of meals that he’s cooked, so I know the relationship is good. So just knowing that it was genuine and it was relationship-driven, that was the biggest piece for me.”

The four-star edge rusher faced a tough first season at Florida after head coach Billy Napier was fired following a 3-4 start (2-2 SEC) in the first seven games. Billy Gonzales then served as interim head coach, finishing the season with a 1-4 record and ending at 4-8.

The Gators ranked 286th in PFSN’s CFB Defense Impact Metric last season after allowing 24.0 points and 5.7 yards per play. They surrendered an average of 222.9 passing yards, 153.9 rushing yards per game, and a total of 34 touchdowns.

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Woods is actively participating in the team’s spring practices that began Tuesday. Florida strength and conditioning coach Rusty Whitt proudly said the incoming sophomore arrives in Gainesville as one of the team’s strongest and best-conditioned players.

“During the gauntlet, we’re matching him up with VB3 (receiver Vernell Brown III), we’re matching him up with wide receivers,” Whitt said. “So, good luck finding an edge rusher anywhere in a country who’s going to run and catch VB. He kept beating our running backs.”

Woods responded to Whitt’s praise by saying he believed in the system and aimed to set an example as one of the upperclassmen in the program.

“That’s the first thing for me, it’s just be all in. Don’t be half in, half out,” the edge rusher said. “And then, the biggest thing for me was trying to be more of a leader, and you know, set the example. So that was the big thing for me, be more vocal and get other guys to come along.”

Florida aims to change the story with Sumrall, who was hired as the program’s 31st head football coach Nov. 30, 2025, following an excellent season with Tulane. The 43-year-old coach plans to build on the success he had with the Green Wave, who reached the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff.