Tariq Woolen will become the third Roadrunner and second former member of the UTSA football program to appear in a Super Bowl, when his Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at 5:30 p.m. CT Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
Woolen will join former UTSA offensive lineman Spencer Burford and former track and field sprinter Teddy Williams as Roadrunners who have appeared in a Super Bowl. Burford, a fourth-round NFL Draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, played in Super Bowl LVIII two years ago, while Williams appeared in Super Bowl 50 as a member of the Carolina Panthers during the 2015 season.
A fifth-round selection by the Seahawks in the 2022 NFL Draft, Woolen has helped Seattle advance to its fourth Super Bowl in franchise history this season. The cornerback posted 41 total tackles, 32 solo stops, 12 pass breakups and one interception in 16 games (seven starts) during the regular season. As a rookie in 2022, he was named to the NFC Pro Bowl Games and the PFWA All-Rookie Team after turning in six interceptions — including a pick six — to go with 16 passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and 63 tackles.
Woolen played in 41 career contests for UTSA from 2018 through 2021 after redshirting in 2017, including full-time on defense during the last two seasons following a position switch from wide receiver late in the 2019 campaign. He tallied 60 total tackles, 38 solo stops, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups and a pair of interceptions combined over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, helping UTSA to 19 wins, the 2021 Conference USA Championship and back-to-back bowl games.
An honorable mention all-league performer in 2021, Woolen started all nine games in which he was available to help lead the Roadrunners to a 12-2 record, a national ranking as high as No. 15 and the program’s first conference title. The Fort Worth Arlington Heights High School product posted 25 total tackles, 17 unassisted stops, 2.5 TFL, five PBUs, one interception and a quarterback hurry in his final year.
Following his senior season, Woolen received invitations to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl and NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. He accepted the Senior Bowl invite and played for the American Team in the annual all-star game in Mobile, Alabama. Later that spring, he clocked a time of 4.26 seconds 40-yard dash and reached 42 inches in the vertical jump at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine before being selected by the Seahawks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
