Julius Wood, the thumping run-stopper

(Editor’s Note: As part of the preparation for training camp, this series will introduce 25 players who are new to the Cowboys’ roster, rookies and veterans alike. We continue with Julius Wood.)

How He Got Here: Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Wood did not generate any college interest out of Walnut Ridge High School as he instead opted to attend Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas. His two years in the JUCO ranks offered an opportunity for him to grow both physically and on the field where he blossomed into a reliable run-stopping safety presence. He then transferred to East Carolina where he accounted for 174 tackles, five pass deflections and four interceptions in his last two seasons with the Pirates. Wood went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Dallas quickly swooped in to land one of the more physical, hard-hitting safeties in the entire draft class.

What’s Next: The safety room has some intriguing young depth with players like Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell, but it was clear that Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay wanted to add some run game knacks to the position when he added a pair of safeties in the undrafted class in Wood and Emany Johnson. Wood will enter training camp as one of the bigger, more physical safeties on the roster at 6-foot-1, 193 pounds which could give him an advantage in the run game as well as on special teams where he could earn his stripes as early as the preseason. The Cowboys have made good use of undrafted talent throughout the team’s history, and Wood is certainly one player to not look past in this year’s class.

Did You Know: Despite being a native of Ohio, Wood’s journey to the Dallas Cowboys will be his second stop in Texas during his football career after playing in junior college at Blinn in Brenham.

Quotable: “I feel like it was the situation, the roster aspect — that was the most important — being able to compete. Really, it came down to where I feel like was the best fit…I felt like the Cowboys, in my heart, was the place I needed to be at.” – Julius Wood to The Holton Ahlers Show on why he chose the Cowboys over other post-draft offers