Coach Spotlight: DeAndre Woods

DeAndre Woods, wide receiver from Clay-Chalkville, Ala., is one of the top offensive prospects in the state. He has collected scholarship offers from coast-to-coast with more likely on the way. Head coach Jerry Hood talked about the talented prospect.

DeAndre Woods has the size and ability to climb the charts with a productive spring, summer and senior season.

Woods sports several scholarship offers including Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, UAB and USC. Alabama is also showing interest in the 6-foot-4, 200-pound prospect.

"DeAndre is obviously a big physical kid," said Jerry Hood. "He doesn’t mind blocking or going through one-on-one drills. He has tremendous hands. He has been a starter for us for two years. We expect really big things from him.

"One of the main things about DeAndre is he is an awesome leader. Everything we ask him to do he does. He treats himself as a guy who always wants to get better. He really does work hard to be better every day. He is an impressive kid."

Woods was a starter for the Cougars his sophomore season. Hood has seen him develop in his leadership role and expects him to play a big part this year.

"When you are a 10th grader and you are starting there isn’t much leadership there," he said. "As the year went by last year you could always count on DeAndre to be consistent. I think with that natural progression of becoming a senior and him being in that role it’s going to be his time to step up."

Hood wants to see Woods become more explosive off the ball and after the catch. He is also working hard during the off-season to improve his speed.

"I was very proud with the way he ran the other day," Hood said. "He ran a 4.6, high 4.5-40. I want him to develop and be more explosive. He is a guy we would like to throw the deep post or fade from outside the 50.

"He can be a big play kid. This year I would like to see him just dominate games more. I want to see him break one more tackle and take it to the house."

Schools will like Woods’ work ethic on-and-off the field.

"DeAndre is a great kid," said Hood. "He works very hard in the classroom. He pulled a 22 on his ACT. He kept working hard on that. He has that extra motivation. He is just overall a great kid."