Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Charles Woodson Sends 9-Word Message to Son as Michigan Recruitment Heats Up

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 8:27 PM ET

The Michigan Wolverines are one of the nation's better developers of talent at the cornerback, nickelback and safety positions judging by the successes of recent stars Will Johnson, Mike Sainristil, Makari Paige and others.

Michigan's 2023-24 national title was sealed with a championship game interception by Sainristil, who help lead the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie in Washington, D.C., continuing the legacy of former Wolverines stars including Charles Woodson.

Recently, Woodson took time out of a charity golf event to speak with Wolverines reporter Sam Webb, during which he was asked about the Michigan offer recently extended to his son Charles Woodson Jr.

Webb also asked Woodson about the challenges of being a football parent watching a collision sport.

"For as long as I've known you, since being here at school, I've never seen you be a guy who was ever, maybe you've been nervous before but I've never seen you be nervous about the game of football, never flinch right," Webb said.

'You're watching as a parent...I was wondering, do you flinch now?" Webb asked Woodson about his two sons, both of whom are high school football players now.

"All the time..Cuz those my babies," Woodson said. "Even though they're grown up, 16, 14 years old, football is where their heart at, I love that, but man every time they're out there, they're tackling or getting tackled...I'm like, 'Ooh,'" Woodson said, wincing, adding that he's a proud father watching his kids develop.

Woodson's son Charles Woodson Jr. of Orlando's Lake Nona, Florida High School received a Wolverines offer recently and also counts offers from Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and others.

"It's a cool moment, man," Woodson said about his son's Michigan offer. "It's a full circle moment."

Woodson had a stark nine-word message for his son as he prepares to begin his junior year.

"You gotta go out there and turn it up," Woodson said.

Woodson said he would "love" for his sons to "be in the maize and blue," adding that he raised them to make their own decisions.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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