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Woodson Is Living The Dream

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: January 1, 2009

TAMPA - Just days before his South Carolina Gamecocks were to take on Iowa in today's Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa native and senior cornerback Stoney Woodson reflected on his college career.

"Dreams come true," he said.

His thoughts went deeper. Woodson didn't plan on football taking him this far.

"I played baseball all my life," Woodson said. "My parents didn't want me to play football. They wanted me to play baseball. If I kept playing, I could have made the pros."

Luckily, his parents allowed him to try out for the Middleton High School football team his junior year. Having never played organized football, he earned a role on the varsity squad as a kick returner and defensive back, unaware of the impact it would have on his future.

He flourished his senior year at Middleton and signed with the Gamecocks in 2004, becoming the school's first major Division I signee since the school reopened in 2002.

Woodson, a fifth-year senior, may fulfill his dream of becoming a professional athlete. A number of draft Web sites predict he will be taken in April's NFL draft. He said he plans to begin training for the NFL scouting combine later this month.

Once he arrived in South Carolina, however, adjusting to the college level was a challenge for Woodson.

"Everybody is good in college," Woodson said. "But I had confidence in myself."

Woodson knew he would have to work for playing time.

"I wanted to play," he said. "That was my motivation, just to play."

He redshirted his freshman year but played in all 12 of South Carolina's games the following season. In 2006, he led South Carolina with three interceptions. Last season, he recorded 26 tackles despite missing two games with a hamstring injury.

He enters the Outback Bowl with 25 tackles and a team-best four interceptions, including a 68-yard return for a touchdown against Tennessee.

Former Middleton football coach Harry Hubbard said Woodson stood out as a natural athlete.

"I noticed him at practice playing cornerback and he did a pretty good job," he said. "He played wide receiver, cornerback, quarterback, kick returner, he did it all. He had great speed anyway."

"He had a good knowledge of the game and it was his competitiveness. Competitiveness is what you look for in kids."

Woodson leads active Gamecocks with eight career interceptions and has already graduated with a degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism management.

"I'm thankful that he's got his degree," Hubbard said. "I think it's a blessing he has the opportunity to play at the next level. He was always a great kid. I never had any problems with him."

Today, Woodson will end his college football career where it all began, in Tampa.

"All of my family can watch me play," he said.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

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