Lehigh LB Keith Woetzel Grad Transferring to Buffalo

Lance Leipold and the Buffalo Bulls have already found success this offseason landing an instant impact grad transfer to plug a hole created by graduation. About a month ago, OL Ray Thomas-Ishman committed to the Bulls helping a unit that loses three starters to graduation. The UB coaching staff went back to the grad transfer well to land Lehigh LB Keith Woetzel from the FCS ranks.

Woetzel was a star in the Patriot League, leading Lehigh in tackles each of his three seasons, averaging 98.7 tackles per season over his career. After recording just 1.5 sacks his first two seasons, Woetzel was used in more of a pass rushing role his final season and set a school record with 12 sacks.

Some of the superlatives from Woetzel’s final season at Lehigh:

-First team All-Patriot League

-Third team All-American

-National Player of the Week after recording 15 tackles, 4 sacks, and an interception on 10/19.

Ranks nationally at the FCS level:

-Solo tackles per game: 2nd (7.2)

-Sacks per game: 4th (1.09)

-Total tackles per game: 6th (10.7)

-Tackles for loss per game: 12th (1.6)

Woetzel’s addition to the roster will be key in helping to replace LB Matt Otwinowski who was the second leading tackler on the team in 2019. Woetzel will also help to replace some of the pass rushing punch lost with the graduation of Ledarius Mack. The LB group returns starters James Patterson, and Kadofi Wright, as well as key rotation piece Tim Terry. Adding Woetzel to that LB room will help keep the Buffalo front seven as a formidable force in the MAC.