Al Woods, DT

A late bloomer, Woods finally was given an opportunity as a full-time starter in 2009 and developed into one of the premier defenders in the Southeastern Conference. After failing to live up to his high school billing during his first three years with the Tigers, he underwent a transformation after his junior season, dedicating himself to the training room. He shed 15 pounds from his frame to increase his stamina, along with increasing his overall strength.

The result was the senior registering 33 of his 73 career tackles and 5.5 of his 7.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage as a Tiger coming during his final campaign. His stellar 2009 performance was greatly needed by a defense that lost two All-American interior linemen during the last two years to graduation - Kansas City first-round draft selections Glenn Dorsey and Tyoka Jackson. Many scouts feel that Woods will be the next Tiger to prove his wares at the professional level.

At Elton High School, Woods was rated among the top defensive tackle prospects in the country by every major recruiting publication. The consensus Top 100 player earned All-American honors as a senior by Parade Magazine, USA Today and Reebok. He also represented the state of Louisiana in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Woods was also named to Tom Lemming's 2005 All-American team, the FSN South's Countdown to Signing Day "All-South" second-team, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen, the Mobile Register Super Southeast 120 and the New Orleans Times-Picayune Top 16 Blue-Chip list.

The down lineman finished an outstanding high school career in 2005 with 109 tackles and 12 stops for loss in his senior season. He also registered 100 tackles and 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage as a junior. Those figures earned him first-team all-state and all-district honors his last two seasons.

Woods enrolled at Louisiana State in 2006, but saw just brief action in six games, as he recorded seven tackles while assisting on a sack. He played behind Dorsey and Jackson in 2007, as the reserve defensive tackle managed 22 tackles with a pair of sacks and had three fumble recoveries in twelve games.

A nagging ankle injury limited Woods to 10 games, including three starting assignments in 2008. He was supposed to replace Dorsey at right tackle, but was credited with only 11 tackles during his junior season. Taking over left tackle chores for his final year, he delivered a career-best 33 tackles (15 solos), a sack and 5.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Positives: Woods has a thick frame with very long limbs, large hands and strong, thick lower body that allows him to generate good leg drive coming off the snap … Very agile and powerful lineman who shows impressive aggression flashing into the backfield, using strong hand swipes to get a good push off blockers … Despite his tall frame, he does a good job of sinking his weight and maintaining balance on the move, using his long arms effectively to keep blockers from attacking his legs … Keeps his hands inside his frame and generates a strong hand punch to split double teams … Has very good explosion heading upfield, showing no hesitation to the play … Uses his raw power to toss blockers aside with consistency … Displays the proper hand technique to dominate, shed and wrap up ballcarriers in the backfield … Has developed an array of spin moves and has learned how to stay low coming out of his charge, making him much more effective on shooting the gaps … His fluid change-of-direction agility allows him to move down the line instantly … Explodes into ballcarriers when tackling, as he consistently gets leverage to be a disruptive force in the backfield … Has the short-area quickness to chase down the plays and is effective when sliding down to play over the center's head … Has excellent rip skills to fight through the double team … Uses his club and swim moves with consistency when shedding … Gets a good inside surge with his initial burst and is quite nimble for a big man when changing direction and working down the line.

Negatives: Generally keeps his pads down, but there are times where he tends to go upright when his initial move does not work, resulting in him losing leverage on the play … Has had concentration lapses and needs to show a better overall awareness for the play … While he is adequate as a pass rusher, he needs to develop another move when redirecting inside (blockers can get into his chest, as he leaves himself exposed, at times) … Sometimes tries to overpower his man on each play, taking him out of the action as he hesitates some to redirect … Must learn when to give up on the battle and redirect to make the play (gets so caught up in one-on-one confrontations, he forgets to go after the ballcarrier at times) … Good wrap-up tackler, but despite his strength it is rare to see him punish or explode into ballcarriers.

Compares To: ROCKY BERNARD, New York Giants -- Like Bernard, Woods was a late bloomer in college. He has great athleticism, but similar to Bernard and former teammate, Tyoka Jackson, his motor runs hot and cold. He can dominate at times, but more often than not, he will get caught up in one-on-one battles and forget to play off blocks to make the play. He is a decent rotation type, but if a team is looking for immediate contributions, they are best to look elsewhere.

--Dave-Te' Thomas

Started 16 of 41 games at Louisiana State, recording 73 tackles (35 solos) with 3.5 sacks for minus 21 yards, eight stops for losses totaling 27 yards and one quarterback pressure … Deflected two passes and recovered three fumbles.

Woods started all 13 games at left defensive tackle, finishing third among Tigers down linemen with a career-best 33 tackles (15 solos), including a 5-yard sack and 5.5 stops for losses of 11 yards, helping the team limit the opposition to 1`6.23 points and 327.62 yards per game … Both of his pass deflections came on third-down snaps.

Woods was limited to 10 games, starting vs. North Texas and Tulane … Sat out the Troy, Mississippi and Arkansas contests with an ankle sprain … Managed just 11 tackles (4 solos) … Had two tackles in each of the Appalachian State, North Texas, Tulane and Mississippi State clashes.

One of the top backup defensive linemen on the squad, playing in 12 games, including the BCS National Championship Game … Finished the year with 22 tackles (13 solos), two sacks for minus 15 yards and three fumble recoveries (tied South Carolina's Eric Norwood, as his three fumble recoveries led the Southeastern Conference).

A top prospect out of high school, Woods appeared in six games behind All-American right defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey … Recorded seven tackles (3 solos) and assisted on a sack … Made three tackles with an assisted sack vs. Kentucky … Also had three stops vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.

2008 Season: Sat out the Troy (11/15), Mississippi (11/22) and Arkansas (11/28) contests with an ankle sprain.

2009 Postseason: Could not complete agility tests at the 2010 NFL Combine due to a left shoulder strain.

Campus: 4.98 in the 40-yard dash … 1.71 10-yard dash … 2.90 20-yard dash … 4.67 20-yard shuttle … 7.45 three-cone drill … 37-inch vertical jump … 9'1" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times … 36-inch arm length … 11-inch hands.

Combine: Could not do agility tests due to strained left shoulder.

Attended Elton (La.) High School, playing football for head coach Brett Fuselier … Rated amongst the top defensive tackle prospects in the country by every major recruiting publication … The consensus Top 100 player earned All-American honors as a senior by Parade Magazine, USA Today and Reebok … Also represented the state of Louisiana in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl … Named to Tom Lemming's 2005 All-American team, the FSN South's Countdown to Signing Day "All-South" second-team, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen, the Mobile Register Super Southeast 120 and the New Orleans Times-Picayune Top 16 Blue-Chip list … Finished his career in 2005 with 109 tackles and 12 stops for loss in his senior season … Registered 100 tackles and 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage as a junior … Those figures earned him first-team all-state and all-district honors his last two seasons.

General Studies major, with concentrations in African-American studies, communication studies and sports studies … Son of Phyllis and Al Woods … Born Al Joseph Woods on 3/25/87 in Jennings, La … Resides in Elton, La.