Bayou DT has eyes for the West

It is always tough to get players out of the southern states to get interested in West Coast schools but there are always a few with that adventurous spirit that will lead them to leave home and attend college to further their education and continue their football careers in the west. With the reemergence of USC it has helped other western schools grab the attention of players from other areas. One southern player is looking at two schools from the Pac-10.

The player is defensive tackle Al Woods (6-4, 329, 5.1) from Elton, La., and the two schools are archrivals USC and UCLA.

As a junior Woods had approximately 100 tackles, two forced fumbles, two sacks and one fumble recovery. He too many quarterback hurries and tackles for loss to count.

Let's put it simply, Woods is a one-man wrecking crew who, well, brings the wood.

Why the interest in UCLA?

"I like UCLA's coaching staff," Woods said. "I like how they handle their relationships between coaches and players."

Why the interest in USC?

"I don't know much about USC except they offered me a scholarship," Woods said. "But I do like them a lot. I plan to visit both UCLA and USC."

Does Woods have any camps on his agenda?

"I plan to go to USC's camp and the NIKE Camp to be held in Forth Worth, Texas," Woods said. "Oklahoma and LSU are also camps that I may attend this summer."

Does Woods have any favorite schools?

"I don't have any clear-cut favorites at this time," Woods said. "I will start to think about what schools I will visit near the end of summer."

What is Woods looking for in a school?

"I am looking for a school that has a good relationship between its coaches and players," Woods said. "Also a school that has a high graduation rate will be a consideration. Lastly I will look into a school where I fit in and feel good about the college."

Woods has offers from USC, Nebraska, LSU and Clemson. His early top ten schools are the above four schools plus UCLA, Miami, Florida State, Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.