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8/19/2008-Football

St. Mary's Rodney Woodland commits to CMU

The West Bloomfield Eccentric

Orchard Lake St. Mary's Rodney Woodland didn't have much of a chance to impress college football coaches during his junior season. He opened the year on the injured list with a hip flexor and ended up playing in seven games. The slot receiver/running back ran just 18 times last year, for 102 yards, but showed flashes of his potential by scoring two touchdowns, including one of 37 yards in the Eaglets' Division 3 state semifinal victory over East Lansing. He also caught one pass for eight yards and returned six kickoffs for 112 yards.

Woodland tried to make up for his lack of on-field exposure in 2007 by attending football camps at Central Michigan University, the University of Toledo, the University of Michigan and Notre Dame this year. He definitely caught some coaches' eyes at those camps, particularly at CMU, where he was offered a football scholarship. Although other schools, including U-M, Notre Dame and Ball State, expressed interest, Woodland decided to end his recruitment early by verbally committing to Central in July.

"I just think that Central Michigan is the place for me," said Woodland. "It fits my style of play and they run the type of offense that I like, the spread offense."

Woodland, who expects to be a slot receiver in college, believes he impressed coaches at CMU and elsewhere this summer.

"The coaches like my speed and my ability to run routes," he said.

Likewise, Woodland was impressed with Central's Mt. Pleasant campus.

"I liked visiting Central Michigan," he said. "It was a nice place. And I like the way the coaches treat you...I looked around at Notre Dame and Michigan, but Notre Dame was kind of boring to me. Michigan was OK."

Now healthy, Woodland is looking forward to his senior season at St. Mary's, which reached the D-3 championship game last season. Woodland hopes to play "a big role on the team this year, at receiver and maybe corner or safety."

He said he "enjoyed the recruiting process," but he's pleased taht his decision is made.

"I'm very happy about that. (I can) just concentrate on my senior year and getting back to the state championship."

Prep Football

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