Patient Stories

For 22-year-old linebacker Wade Woodaz, the road to the NFL started in high school when his coaches in Tampa, Florida, took note of his exceptional talent.

“My recruiting was picking up for colleges and coaches started telling me I would be in the NFL one day,” Wade said. “I didn’t believe it immediately, but once I got to Clemson University and started to play, I realized I’ve got everything I need to make it.”

Wade excelled as a starting linebacker at Clemson, where he was elected permanent team captain, earned three-time All-ACC Academic honors, and was prized for his high-end coverage ability and foot speed.

“I am a fluid athlete,” Wade said. “I can really move and I finished my career at Clemson with 201 tackles.”

That talent and drive paid off. Wade was chosen by the Houston Texans in the 2026 NFL draft—an accomplishment that’s even more impressive, given what he went through in the months leading up to it.

“I injured my right shoulder during a game in November 2025,” Wade said. “I was running to my right and laid out. When I landed, my arm was fully extended and I dislocated my shoulder. I felt it pop back in place when I got up, but my whole arm was tingling.”

Despite the pain, Wade kept playing during that game. Later, an MRI revealed a complete labrum tear.

“It was a really bad injury – a 360-degree tear,” said orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Nathan M. Moroski, MD (Seneca, SC), who is also a team physician for Clemson University Athletics. “A lot of force goes through his shoulders every time he makes a tackle, so unfortunately, this is a very common injury in contact athletes who play at this level.”

In December 2025, Dr. Moroski repaired Wade’s labrum using Arthrex 1.8 mm Knotless FiberTak® soft anchors and sent him to physical therapy with a rehab protocol designed to allow him to return to football as quickly as possible. Within four months, Wade did just that.

“With a guy like Wade, the toughest thing is to hold them back to allow enough time to heal,” Dr. Moroski said. “He is such a hard worker, and he was ready to get back yesterday. He handled the physical and mental challenge so well. I could not be prouder of him.”

For Wade, trusting his surgeon and the process was the key to his quick recovery.

“The first week was brutal, honestly,” Wade said. “But I was determined to get back and throughout the rehab process, I was ahead of schedule. Every week, I could feel my mobility and strength coming back.”

Wade recovered enough to showcase his talent at the Clemson Football Pro Day in March 2026.

“I’m really proud of how I did,” Wade said. “I stayed positive every day leading up to Pro Day. I trusted Dr. Moroski when he told me I would get back to where I needed to be in time, and he was right.”

Today, Wade is fully cleared to play football with no restrictions and says he’s ready to prove what he’s capable of in the NFL with the Houston Texans.

“I am just excited to know where I’m going,” Wade said. “I have been anticipating this for years. It’s kind of crazy, but I can’t wait for what’s next.”

Disclaimers:

This is not medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by a surgeon or other qualified medical professional on the use of these products. You should talk with your physician or health care provider for more information about your health condition and whether Arthrex products might be appropriate for you. The surgeon who performs any surgical procedure is responsible for determining and using the appropriate techniques for surgical procedures on each individual patient. Arthrex recommends that surgeons be trained on the use of any particular product before using it in surgery. A surgeon must always rely on their own professional medical judgment when deciding whether to use a particular product when treating a particular patient. A surgeon must always refer to the package insert, product label, and/or directions for use before using any Arthrex product. Postoperative management is patient-specific and dependent on the treating professional’s assessment. Individual results will vary and not all patients will experience the same postoperative activity level or outcomes. Products may not be available in all markets because product availability is subject to the regulatory approvals and medical practices in individual markets. Please contact Arthrex if you have questions about the availability of products in your area.

This real patient was compensated for the time he took to share his story.

Physician is a paid consultant of Arthrex, Inc.