The South Carolina Gamecocks open their 2025 season this Sunday against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, but the Hokies may be without a key defensive leader.
Junior linebacker Caleb Woodson, who was recently named a team captain, was charged with DWI on Saturday. Virginia Tech acknowledged the incident in a statement Tuesday morning.
Head coach Brent Pry told reporters there will be “internal program consequences” for Woodson, though no decision has been made about his availability for the opener against South Carolina. Pry also confirmed that Woodson has been stripped of his captaincy, with the possibility of regaining it in the future.
If Woodson is sidelined, it would be a significant setback for the Hokies. He finished the 2024 season as the team’s second-leading tackler with 72 stops and led all Hokie linebackers with eight tackles for loss. His absence could give Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers more opportunities to exploit running lanes against Virginia Tech’s front seven.
Whether Woodson takes the field Sunday remains uncertain, but his status will be a major storyline leading into the season opener.
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