#17- Robert Woods/ Wide Receiver/ USC Trojans/ Sophomore
What can I say that is negative about the type of football player USC gets year in and out? When Pete Carroll was in Los Angeles from 2000 to 2009, the Trojans built a dynasty, winning 3 national titles and producing many NFL main stays. From Johnnie Morton to R.Jay Soward, Kareem Kelly, Mike Williams, Steve Smith, Dwayne Jarrett, to now Robert Woods, Kyle Prater, Victor Blackwell, and George Farmer, the Trojans have had tremendous success at the Wide Receiver position and this year will be a breakout year for the ladder names. The benefit they have is similar to the benefit the other great receivers at SC had in their college career. A great quarterback to throw to them. Soward, Williams, and Kelly had Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer behind center, Jarret and Smith had Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart as their signal caller. Do you see a pattern? Matt Barkley, USC's Jr. QB, is the next great USC arm, and has skills beyond his age.
Second year head coach Lane Kiffin has the the #2 receiving core in the nation that the offense and Barkley will benefit greatly from. Woods is an amazing talent and finds holes in coverage to break off defenders and is the Trojans leading returner statistically at wide receiver. The 6'1 190 lbs. flanker caught 65 passes for 792 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2010.
Last year, due to a cut in scholarships from NCAA sanctions, USC was basically forced to play Woods immediately without the thought of redshirting him. Instead they redshirted Kyle Prater, another ballyhooed receiver from Illinois, who came in last year's recruting class with Woods.
USC might not be able to contend for a national title this season due to those sanctions(which includes a 3 year bowl ban), but watch out for the dangerous receivers and offense that the Trojans will showcase. Impressive is an understatement.
Article by: Ronald Hill
Photo: courtesy of usctrojans.com
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