BLACKSBURG -- The Virginia Tech football team will have four captains instead of five for Sunday's season opener against No. 13 South Carolina.
Junior linebacker Caleb Woodson had his captaincy stripped after being charged by a sergeant from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office with a misdemeanor DWI on Saturday. Online court records show Woodson was arrested Saturday and was later released after posting bail for the first offense driving while intoxicated charge.
He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 9.
"Obviously ... there's been a lot of discussions over the last few days regarding this matter. Very serious matter," Hokies coach Brent Pry told reporters Tuesday. "There's certainly internal program consequences in play, measures in play. And then the university's policy, the athletic department's policies -- we're committed to see that out."
The Virginia Tech depth chart for the opener against the Gamecocks listed Woodson or Antwone Santiago as the starter at Mike linebacker.
"As far as his play this weekend, that's yet to be determined," Pry said of Woodson.
Pry added that Woodson has the opportunity to earn his captain status back.
Woodson was one of five players announced Aug. 19 as captains for the 2025 season. Defensive tackle Kelvin Gilliam, quarterback Kyron Drones, tight end Benji Gosnell and placekicker John Love were the other four players voted as captains by their teammates and coaching staff.
"C-Wood, he's my brother on this team, one of the few guys that coming into Tech I started hanging out with," Gilliam said. "My message to him was that the journey that we're about to go on, we're going to have more distractions, more adversity coming our way, but I did tell him that something good comes out of every situation and regardless of if he's able to play or not, you make sure you're ready. And like I told the team, keep the main thing the main thing, and that's going into South Carolina and coming out with a victory."
Woodson was lauded by the coaching staff early in training camp for his work ethic and growth at inside linebacker. Defensive coordinator Sam Seifkes told reporters earlier in August that he had Woodson address the defensive players about how he approaches each day.
Now one of the leading voices on the defense could potentially not suit up for the massive season opener against the Gamecocks inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
"I mean, it's easy to look at all the noise that's out there, all the comments the fans say, but in my opinion, like I just said, you have to keep the main thing the main thing and focus on what are we about to do this season?" Gilliam said. "I tell these guys you have to be at least mentally tough enough to not look at that stuff and not focus on that stuff and to really buy into what we're about to do this upcoming weekend."
Santiago arrived over the summer after transferring from Temple. He and North Carolina transfer Michael Short are the primary backups listed behind Woodson and Jaden Keller, respectively.
"Those guys have come in and gotten better in each and every mini-camp, which they needed to do," Pry said of Santiago and Short. "They weren't ready when they got here, but they're both talented in their own way. I think those two, coupled with Kaleb Spencer, I feel good about our depth there."
Woodson's charge on Saturday is the third driving offense he has been cited for dating back to 2024.
Woodson was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving on July 26 in Warren County General District Court. Online court records show Woodson was released on summons after being charged with driving 96 mph in a 70 mph zone.
The charge was filed July 30. The court date is scheduled for Sept. 16.
"Just letting him know that the team's got his back, no matter what. We love Caleb," Drones said. "Everybody makes a bad decision here and there. His just got caught up. But at the same time, we already know the type of player he is and the type of work he put in. So whether he goes out there and plays or not, we're going to have his back no matter what. We're still on a mission to go with the game."
Woodson also had a driving infraction on June 9, 2024, where he was cited by a Blacksburg police officer for driving 96 mph in a 65 mph zone.
Woodson was allowed to prepay the $186 fine and $74 court costs.
Woodson did not start the first two games of the 2024 season. He started the next 11 as the primary Will linebacker.
Damien Sordelett (540) 981-3124
SEASON OPENER
Va. Tech vs. No. 13 South Carolina
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Aug. 31, 3 p.m., ESPN
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