Former NFL player Donovan Woods talked to Duncan Middle School students about following their dreams and putting in the work to find success.
Woods was the guest speaker on Thursday during a DMS assembly, when he talked about his career highs and lows, and the setbacks he had along the way. He was the first guest speaker of the 2024-25 school year.
Woods was a football player for Oklahoma State University and previously played professionally for the Pittsburg Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills.
¨I love to play sports, but mostly football,¨ Woods said.
On Thursday, he was in Duncan as the guest for the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, which led to his invite to talk to the DMS crowd. Duncan Mayor Robert Armstrong introduced him during the DMS assembly.
He said he played three positions, he first of which was linebacker. He also played safety and wide receiver.
Woods said that he had a one in a million shot of becoming a professional football player. He had coaches that pushed him to be better by being honest about the areas he was lacking.
However, he said that his hard work and dedication to God helped him find success.
¨With the help of God anything is possible.¨
Emily Peyton, seventh-grade science teacher, said she thought the guest speaker was inspirational because he encouraged students to never give up on their dreams. Peyton said Woods shared a lot of good information, and she appreciated how encouraging he was of the students.
She said his success could be attributed to his work ethic and dedication to his sport.
¨With him keep following your dreams,¨ Peyton said.
