MORGANTOWN —
It appears that West Virginia wide receiver J.D. Woods can finally see the forest through the trees.
A gifted player out of Florida, his has been a career filled with thrills, not all of them on the field.
But now he’s a senior, he’s running with the first unit at Z receiver and he avoided what seemed to be an academic pothole that threatened to ruin his senior season.
And that would have been a shame because he feels he’s ready to finally reach his potential.
“I’m excited, very excited. I don’t have too much time left. Every play counts now,” he said.
It is hard to imagine that he came out of Golden Gate High in Naples, Fla., in 2008 and ended up redshirting that season when he dislocated his left shoulder.
As a redshirt freshman he wasn’t much advanced past being a redshirt, playing in just four games, but by his sophomore year he seemed to be on the fast track to a big-time career, playing in all 13 games, starting four of them, having 18 receptions, four of them against Syracuse and three each against South Florida and Rutgers.
His junior season was a battle, however, mostly with himself. He played only nine games, none of them starts until the season’s final two games when he fought his way into the starting lineup.
It was not at all what he pictured coming in, but it was what he’s come to know in the game.
“Overcoming adversity and understanding there is going to be struggles in college football,” he answered when asked the lessons he’d learned along the way. “Everything isn’t going to be the way you want it. The only thing I can do is when they call my name is to go in.”
Coming off starting the final two games last year, including the Orange Bowl, he seemed to be in position to make a strong statement as a senior.
But he apparently ran into academic problems and had to stop hitting defensive backs and start hitting the books. His coach, Dana Holgorsen, admitted he was worried about Woods’ situation enough that he had him running with the scout team.
Holgorsen’s policy is to practice the players who he is sure are going to be playing rather than give someone in jeopardy reps with the first team.
“He looked good. He finished the year last year as the starting Z, the outside guy, and we moved him inside, because we need some inside guys,” Holgorsen said. “With the emergence of Jordan Thompson playing at a very high level, he took that spot and ran with it. We felt better at the inside receiver spot with him and Tavon (Austin) than we did at the outside receiver spot, so we moved J.D. back out, because he was more productive,” Holgorsen said.
Woods has been taking his role as a senior seriously and trying to help the younger receivers, a talented, deep group, to avoid some of the pitfalls he’s faced.
“The thing is keeping your head into the game in fall camp,” he said. “It’s hot, so it’s easy to get down on yourself. I tell the guys to continue to work hard.”
And despite the ups and downs, he wouldn’t trade his time at WVU for anything.
“My time at West Virginia has been awesome. I couldn’t ask to be in a better place. West Virginia has treated me like ... Florida,” he said.
Email Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @bhertzel.
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