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WR, 5'10, 170, 4.5, 280 BP
Memphis, TN
Birthday: 10-2-79
High School: Melrose
HS Mascot: Wildcats
HS Coach: Tim Thompson
HS Position: WR
HS Number: 2
Official Visits: AL, AU, Memphis
Second Choice: AU or Memphis
Host During Alabama Visit: Ahmaad Galloway
Committed: 2-4-99
Stats
HS Junior Season
Receptions
- 65 receptions
- 1421 yards
- 16 TDs
HS Senior Season
Receptions
- 72 receptions
- 1558 yards
- 20 TDs
Career
Receptions
- 135 receptions
- 2979 yards
- 36 TDs
Honors
- Two-time All-Area
- MVP State Championship Game
- Memphis Offensive Player of The Year
- Prep Star All American
SBR Scouting Report
Runs good routes. Seems to catch every pass thrown to him. Good quickness out of his breaks. Effective speed. Elusive runner after the catch. Some recruiters like him as a cornerback. Projects as a wide
receiver.
[Observation: four complete games over the past two seasons.]
Stories
Melrose Pipeline
For the second straight year the Melrose pipeline produced for Alabama.
Last year Alabama landed All-American defensive lineman Kindal Morehead. This year the Tide got All-American defensive end David Paine and the MVP of the state championship game, wide receiver Derrick Woods.
Woods says that the Melrose trio ended up together at Alabama by chance.
"Kindal and Paine always wanted to play together," Woods says. "But I liked Tennessee until they backed off of me. They told my coach that I was too short and didn't have the grades."
Tennessee fans are blaming Melrose coach Tim Thompson for "sending" his players to Alabama. But just two years ago Tennessee landed three players from Melrose, including defensive back Andre Lott who chose the Vols over Alabama.
"I've heard that rumor and it's totally not true," Woods says. "Coach Thompson told each one of us to make the decision that was in our best interest. If we had any questions, he was there to help us. He didn't give any advice unless one of us asked him to."
Woods Earns MVP Award
Woods, who had over 70 receptions this season, made his most memorable catch in the fourth quarter of the state title game against Roane County.
Trailing by six points, Melrose was backed up to its 14-yard line. On third down, the Wildcats went to their big-play receiver.
"The play was called 'Six-Across," recalls Woods. "All I do on that play is run straight up the field."
Woods beat double coverage to get open.
"I had them by 10 yards. When I saw the ball coming I knew it was a touchdown."
Woods caught the ball and rambled into end zone.
Melrose won 35-34, and Woods, who finished with eight catches for 182 yards and three touchdowns, was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
Q&A
TI: Derrick, is there a receiver that you could compare yourself to?
DW: A lot of people say that I remind them of Peter Warrick. I don't have his speed, but I've got his moves and I know how to make people miss. I'm a big-play receiver.
TI: Some people at Melrose consider you to be a better prospect that Cedric Wilson [Tennessee wide receiver who played at Melrose].
DW: I'd say that my hands are better than Ced's. He'll tell you that himself. He's a little faster than I am. But I've got good football speed.
TI: Are you expecting to play next year at Alabama?
DW: It's all up to me. All I have to do is work hard and be ready and I'll play.
TI: Will it be hard to adjust to Alabama's offense?
DW: It shouldn't be, because we threw the ball a lot in high school. I ran every kind of route there is. So I don't think there will be any problem with learning the system, because it'll be basically the same.
TI: Early on in the recruiting process you seemed to be interested in Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky. How did you become interested in Alabama?
DW: Their offense is wide open. Plus, they have a great young quarterback in Andrew Zow. I liked the fact that he was only a freshman last year.
TI: Did you talk to Zow during the recruiting process?
DW: Yes, I talked to him some about the offense. He said that they really needed some big-play receivers to throw to. He wanted some receivers that could get downfield for the long ball and that's what I can do.
TI: Are you excited about the opportunity to play for Alabama?
DW: At first I really wanted to go to Tennessee. But Alabama told me the truth the whole way through. They stuck with me and Tennessee didn't because of my grades. Now I'm going to be eligible to play next season.
TI: Will the fact that Tennessee backed off of you serve as motivation for you?
DW: I want to play against them real bad. I'll want to have my best game against them.
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