Woodson is 25 pounds lighter, a second quicker and much better

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -One second has made a huge difference for Andre Woodson.

The Kentucky quarterback went through a rigorous offseason training program that helped him slim down by 25 pounds. He wasn't a running quarterback at 250 pounds, and still isn't at 225, but running forward faster was never the goal.

His slimmer frame has helped him cut about one second off the time it takes him to drop back for a pass - an eternity when rushers are coming from all directions.

"It helps out your footwork," Woodson said of the extra second. "It's easier to get your feet set and get rid of the ball."

The extra second has helped Woodson develop into one of the Southeastern Conference's best quarterbacks.

Heading into Saturday's game against South Carolina, Woodson has 14 touchdown passes for Kentucky (3-2) - tying him with Florida's Heisman Trophy candidate Chris Leak for second in the nation. He had six last season.

But the transformation hasn't all been physical. Coaches say Woodson is making better decisions, avoiding sacks and interceptions by dumping the ball off to playmakers like Rafael Little or Keenan Burton.

"We've always felt he had good ability," coach Rich Brooks said. "Now he's starting to fulfill the potential part. He's making a lot fewer negative plays, which means he's making more positive plays."

Woodson said Brooks has long encouraged him to be a more vocal leader. Only recently, Woodson said, has he realized that doesn't always mean screaming in the face of a teammate, which has never been his style.

If someone needs to be chewed out, he'll do that in private. And if players need a jolt of intensity, he lets his actions do the talking.

"The players see it in my eyes," Woodson said. "When they're not practicing well, things are getting sloppy, I tell them, 'We don't have time to clown around."'

Woodson said he got his own nudge in the offseason when he was bumped to second-team behind Curtis Pulley - a younger, quicker quarterback - on the depth chart.

"Obviously, I had a bad week after that, kind of pouting and taking it in the wrong way," he said. "After that, I got my attitude in the right direction."

Now even Pulley, who is a good friend, acknowledges that he'll likely have to wait a season or two before getting his shot under center. In the meantime, Pulley has become a dangerous receiver and part of several trick plays.

For his emergence, Woodson credits quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders, who at Tennessee helped mold Peyton Manning.

"He's coached so many quarterbacks and turned them into big names," Woodson said of Sanders. "They've all gone to the NFL and played on Sundays. He's challenged me to really play at a different level."