Woulards work pays off with Army Bowl
Last fall, Asiantii Woulard, was a first-year quarterback at Winter Park trying to become a reliable varsity starter after spending time at receiver.
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Today, he is a U.S. Army All-American and Elite 11 MVP.
In 2011, Woulard threw for 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He knew in order to be considered one of the best he had to put in some extra work.
The USF pledge said, "Last season was rough. I didn't really know what I was doing back there. The game was moving so fast. It was hard grasping everything."
During the offseason he decided to spend his weekends working on drills, taking snaps, and watching film. He studied tape and tried to get a better understanding of the game.
However, it was a trip to California for the Elite 11 QB Finals that really opened his eyes.
"It was a tremendous experience," he said. "Coach Trent Dilfer (Head Elite 11 QB coach) pushed us to the limit. He stressed that when you are broken you have to find a way to pick yourself back up."
The visit to Los Angeles started with an obstacle as he dealt with a leg injury that caused him to miss a workout. He was able to rebound and win the MVP award with a stellar performance on the last day.
Now he gets a chance to show what he can do against the nation's top players in San Antonio at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
When asked if he feels like he has something to prove to the naysayers who said he is just an athlete playing quarterback?
He was quick to cut me off and reply, "No I don't have anything to prove. It feels great to be in this position. All the work I did in the offseason is starting to pay off, but I'm still improving."
One area he notices a big improvement in is his pocket awareness. He anticipates throws better and knows when to release the ball before his receivers are out of their breaks. He is more adept at what defenses are doing and reading coverage's before the ball is in his hand.
"That is one of the biggest things from my first year to my second year is seeing the field, stepping up in the pocket, and staying calm under pressure," he said.
Being the first football All-American in school history helps others around him. He pointed out more colleges come by the school and it gives his teammates a chance to get noticed by recruiters.
When he arrives in Texas, he is looking forward to meeting the players and competing. He plans on learning from the other quarterbacks and defensive players. He chimed, "If I can pick up something from a safety that can help me in the game, I'm going to make note of it."
What does it take to be an All-American?
"Everyone wants to be an All-American, but not everyone wants to work for it," he said. "I just told myself if you want something bad enough you can get it."
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