Any favorites for Woods
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Inglewood (Calif.) wide receiver Derrick Woods is amongst the standouts on the West squad at the ESPN Rise Gridiron Kings event. After the conclusion of the first day of action, Woods was all smiles about the experience.
"It is great out here," Woods said. "The level of competition is so high and so intense. So everything is good. These guys come from all over the world, so it is also an opportunity to meet new people. It is a great experience for me."
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The four-star shed a little light on his recruitment at this stage.
"Schools that are really in the picture are Washington, Southern Cal, Alabama, Oregon, and Florida," Woods said. "That isn't necessarily my top five, because every time I get asked that question I probably switch it up a bit, but those are five schools I know I am very interested in."
The Rivals100 prospect has checked out two in-state institutions, but hasn't yet taken other visits.
"I have visited just USC and UCLA," Woods said. "The campuses at both schools are really nice. At Southern Cal, I have a great relationship with all of the coaches there and I know some of the players there."
With schools from across the nation on his offer list and amongst his current top schools, will distance play a factor?
"Distance might play a little factor," Woods said. "But in the south there is my grandparents and my dad as well as some of my cousins. At home is my mom, my brother, and some of my cousins too."
His southern ties are spread out throughout Alabama and Mississippi.
At this time, he has one official visit marked down and others that are likely.
"I know I am going to take one to Alabama for sure," Woods said. "Probably Florida, Oregon, and Washington as well."
Woods said a visit to Alabama for the LSU game on November 5th is quite likely at this point. He talked about why he is so interested in the Crimson Tide.
"I like the coaches and the players there," Woods said of Alabama. "Their program is very nice, really traditional, and I love how they develop players."
While Alabama, and others, have made a good impression, not one school is sitting on top for his services at this point.
"I don't have a leader," Woods said.
According to Woods, a decision will likely come during the U.S. Army All-American Game in January 2012.