Florida QB is success story

Every once in a while there is a certain player or a certain story that grips you and takes hold. Homestead, Fla., quarterback Tommy Kendrick is one of those stories. While many other kids in his neighborhood and high school struggle with drugs, gangs and other problems the youth of today deal with on a daily basis, Kendrick’s family kept him focused on sports and a goal getting to college. That focus now has produced a number of scholarship offers and one of Florida’s top success stories.

Kendrick, who is 6-foot-2 ½ and 220 pounds, said growing up in Homestead is tough and there were many opportunities for him to stray and get in trouble. But instead of hanging out with his peers and doing the wrong things, his parents instilled a strong work ethic and a background in sports.

“I grew up around a hood that just has a lot of drugs, people dealing drugs and people just doing bad stuff,” Kendrick said.

“But I was a kid with parents that loved me a lot. My parents separated me from that and got us into the good stuff like sports and for me football. I’m the only boy out of three sisters and we’re all involved in sports in some sort of fashion. They kept me focused and dedicated on the right stuff.”

That work ethic and good family background has turned Kendrick into one of South Florida’s top dual-threat quarterbacks.

Kendrick threw for 1,157 yards, rushed for 500 yards, had 15 passing touchdowns and five rushing scores. Combine those stats with his size, 4.87-seoncd speed in the 40-yard dash and a very solid arm and you have a prospect that already has scholarship offers from Rutgers, South Florida, Pittsburgh and Auburn.

“My mom (Connie Kendrick) and dad (Willie Woodley) were amazing,” Kendrick said. “My father played at Miami Southridge, and he brought me up on how to play football. He worked with me on things that made me the player that I am today. My mom was always there for me. Whenever I would get down or stray, she would always lift me up.”

But Kendrick also has inner-motivation and strives to be the best person and best player that he can be.

“I’m a very respectful player,” Kendrick said. “I do what the coaches tell me. I’m not hard to work with. I’ll do anything that it takes to win and help the team. But I also believe in my ability. I think I have the arm and the ability to read a defense. I just go out there and use my God given talent. I know what I can do and that I have the positive attitude to be a college quarterback.”

Many college coaches agree. He’s received call this month from many teams – so many that he can’t remember them all. But the ones that he does remember include Rutgers, East Carolina, Ole Miss, Auburn, and Miami.

Kendrick said one of the biggest factors in his decision will be playing time. He would like a shot at playing some as a freshman or a redshirt freshman. But he’s got some personal goals for his senior season first.

“I want to be an all-Florida player,” he said. “I want to throw for 1,500 yards. I want to go to state, beat Northwestern and have a shot at playing big-time football in college.”