FREELAND, MI — When Ted Hendricks heard LaMarr Woodley signed with the Oakland Raiders, he had a little celebration.

"All the Hendricks Award winners are pretty close ... like a little family," Hendricks said. "But LaMarr's the first one to be an Oakland Raider."

Hendricks, the NFL Hall of Fame linebacker, was one of 80 golfers to tee off Friday at Apple Mountain Golf Club in Freeland, as part of the LaMarr Woodley Play it Forward Golf Outing.

Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Ted Hendricks poses with future Oakland linebacker LaMarr Woodley at Woodley's Play it Forward Golf Outing Friday at Apple Mountain Golf Course in Freeland.

Hendricks, who lives north of Chicago, didn't take part in the Friday night Bowl-A-Thon at Stardust Lanes or Saturday's LaMarr Woodley Free Youth Football Camp at Saginaw High.

"I'm the first one to be a Raider?" Woodley said. "That's great. That's incredible. To follow Ted Hendricks is amazing to me. One of the first things I saw at Oakland's training camp was his picture as a member of the Hall of Fame."

Hendricks had a Hall of Fame career for the Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders. He was a three-time All-American for the University of Miami. The college award for the top defensive end in the country is named after Ted Hendricks, who is also the only NFL player born in Guatamala.

Terrell Suggs of Arizona State was the first Hendricks Award winner in 2002, while Texas senior Jackson Jeffcoat was the 2013 winner. Woodley won the award for the University of Michigan in 2006.

"I'm proud of all of them," Hendricks said. "One of the factors in the award is community service. It's not just what you do on the field. For LaMarr, a big part of that was a golf outing (Heroes for Kids) that he was a part of that helped kids.

"It's a great feeling for me that he continues to do things like this. I'm honored to be asked to be a part of it."

Woodley was honored to have him. Hendricks was also invited to Woodley's wedding.

"He flew here from Chicago to do this for me ... when I went to training camp in Oakland, he was there and gave me a ride to pick up a car and waited for me," Woodley said. "He's always doing things like that. Plus, you look at him, and it looks like he could still play. He's in great shape."

Hendricks, 66, played his last season in 1983 for the Raiders. He can't wait to watch Woodley play for Oakland.

"He's going to have a great season because they also picked up (Justin) Tuck to play on the line too," Hendricks said. "Oakland knew what it needed to do, knew what was missing last year and that was a pass rush. You add Tuck and LaMarr, you have a pass rush."

That depends, however, on Woodley's health. His last seasons with the Steelers have been marred by injuries to his calves, hamstrings and ankles.

Hendrick, a 6-foot-7 linebacker, did not have the same problems. He played in 215 consecutive regular-season games.

"I started, but that doesn't necessarily mean I finished those games," Hendrick said. "A lot of staying healthy is just luck. I was very fortunate.

"But there were things I did, things I kept telling myself. You always have to keep your head on a swivel. I never stood around a pile, and I never planted my foot in the ground if I saw someone coming.

"It might look terrible on film when you get crushed and go flying, but it's not as bad as having your leg and knee planted. That's when you get hurt.

"If LaMarr can stay healthy, he can have a great season."