University of Houston Athletics
Freshman Sensation Grabs All-America Honors
12/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 10, 2001
Just two seasons removed from an All-Greater Houston pick as a high school running back, University of Houston strong safety Jermain Woodard today was selected a Third Team Freshman All-America on defense by The Sporting News.
Despite missing the season finale against nationally-ranked Georgia with a broken foot, Woodard finished the season with 78 total tackles, including 49 unassisted and seven for losses. He also registered two forced fumbles and one sack in his 10 games.
Woodard arrived at Houston in 2000, as a much-ballyhooed running back from Dobie High School. During his initial freshman season, Woodard was switched to the defensive secondary and spent the 2000 campaign learning his new position.
Woodard began the 2001 season as a backup at strong safety, but after his performance against Texas on September 22, he earned the starting nod the following week versus TCU. He responded in his first collegiate start with a career-best 13 tackles, including three for losses. Woodard then started the remaining seven games of the year before suffering his injury during practice the week of the Georgia game.
Averaging 7.8 tackles per game, Woodard finished the year third on the team in tackles behind junior Hanik Milligan and senior Arthur Gissendanner. Woodard also racked up 10 tackles at Army and had at least seven tackles in five other contests (Texas, Memphis, Cincinnati, Southern Miss and Louisville.)
Last week Woodard was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.
-UHCougars.com-
Complete Freshman All-America Team to follow.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
WR Kelley Washington, 6-4, 225, Tennessee WR Reggie Williams, 6-4, 215, Washington TE Bobby Hoover, 6-4, 240, Tulane OL (T) Nat Dorsey, 6-6, 325, Georgia Tech OL (T) Shawn Andrews, 6-6, 330, Arkansas OL (G) Doug Buckles, 6-5, 290, Mississippi* OL (G/T) Wes Sims, 6-5, 300, Oklahoma* OL (T) Logan Mankins, 6-4, 290, Fresno State* QB Chris Rix, 6-4, 205, Florida State* RB Anthony Davis, 5-8, 185, Wisconsin* RB Cedric Benson, 6-0, 200, Texas
Defense
DL (E) Travis Johnson, 6-5, 282, Florida State* DL (T) Tommie Harris, 6-3, 275, Oklahoma DL (T) Shaun Cody, 6-5, 255, USC DL (T) Bobby Leffew, 6-4, 270, Louisville* LB Derrick Johnson, 6-4, 215, Texas LB Bradley Vance, 6-1, 211, Minnesota LB Robert Rodriguez, 6-1, 230, UTEP* DB (CB) Matt Ware, 6-3, 195, UCLA DB (CB) Marlin Jackson, 6-1, 182, Michigan DB (SS) Mitch Meeuwsen, 6-3, 208, Oregon State* DB (FS) Jason Shivers, 6-1, 190, Arizona State
Special teams
K Justin Ayat, 6-0, 198, Hawaii* P Tony Yelk, 6-0, 201, Iowa State* KR Charles Frederick, 6-0, 190, Washington
SECOND TEAM
Offense
WR Derrick Hamilton, 6-4, 190, Clemson* WR Fred Gibson, 6-4, 180, Georgia TE Tory Humphrey, 6-3, 230, Central Michigan OL (G) Eyoseph Efseaff, 6-3, 295, UCLA* OL (T) Rob Petitti, 6-6, 330, Pittsburgh* OL (G) Patrick Babcock, 6-6, 295, Illinois* OL (G) William Whitticker, 6-6, 299, Michigan State* OL (C) Ben Wilkerson, 6-4, 275, LSU QB David Greene, 6-3, 222, Georgia* RB Carnell Williams, 5-11, 193, Auburn RB Kevin Jones, 6-1, 205, Virginia Tech
Defense
DL (E) Brandon Kania, 6-3, 230, Idaho DL (T) Donnell Washington, 6-6, 320, Clemson* DL (T) Brandon Dabdoub, 6-1, 295, Colorado* DL (E) Kenechi Udeze, 6-3, 295, USC* LB Mayo Sowell,, 6-2, 220, Auburn* LB Barrett Ruud, 6-2, 220, Nebraska LB Ronald Stanley, 6-2, 210, Michigan State DB (CB) Antonio Perkins, 6-0, 175, Oklahoma* DB (CB) Carlos Rogers, 6-1, 167, Auburn DB (SS) Marvin Godbolt, 5-11, 195, TCU* DB (SS) Doug Monaghan, 6-3, 200, Cincinnati
Special teams
K Nick Novak, 6-0, 186, Maryland* P Derek McLaughlin, 6-2, 190, Washington KR Alvin Pearman, 5-10, 192, Virginia
THIRD TEAM
Offense
WR Josh Davis, 6-1, 195, Marshall* WR Michael Clayton, 6-4, 185, LSU TE Ben Hall, 6-5, 240, Clemson OL (T) Nick Kaczur, 6-6, 300, Toledo OL (T) Calvin Armstrong, 6-8, 298, Washington State* OL (G) Justin Smiley, 6-3, 292, Alabama* OL (T) C.J. Brooks, 6-5, 304, Maryland* OL (C) Vince Carter, 6-3, 265, Oklahoma QB Ben Roethlisberger, 6-5, 209, Miami (Ohio)* RB Marion Barber, 5-11. 195, Minnesota RB Chance Kretschmer, 6-2, 220, Nevada*
Defense
DL (E) Alfred Peterson, 6-3, 245, Rutgers DL (E) Rashad Jeanty, 6-3, 230, Central Florida DL (T) Skylor Magee, 6-1, 270, Southern Miss* LB Anthony Schlegel, 6-2, 220, Air Force LB Justin Beriault, 6-3, 190, Ball State* LB Matt Grootegoed, 5-11, 205, USC* LB Nick Speegle, 6-5, 235, New Mexico* DB (CB) Marcus McGruder, 5-9, 180, Wake Forest* DB (CB) Ahmad Carroll, 5-11, 190, Arkansas DB (SS) Matt Pusateri, 5-11, 195, Miami (Ohio)* DB (FS) Jermain Woodard, 5-11, 195, Houston*
Special teams
K Xavier Beitia, 5-10, 180, Florida State P James Gaither, 6-4, 220, Memphis KR Jahmal Fenner, 5-9, 175, UTEP
FOURTH TEAM
Offense
WR Terrence Murphy, 6-1, 190, Texas A&M WR Taylor Stubblefield, 6-1, 166, Purdue* TE Chris Holmes, 6-5, 259, Toledo* OL (T) Uriah Moenoa, 6-4, 331, Hawaii* OL (T) Wesley Britt, 6-8, 304, Alabama* OL (G) Dan Buenning, 6-4, 299, Wisconsin* OL (G) Marcus Johnson, 6-6, 320, Mississippi* OL (G) Chris Snee, 6-2, 300, Boston College* QB Gino Guidugli, 6-4, 205, Cincinnati RB Alex Haynes, 5-11, 220, Central Florida* RB Frank Gore, 5-10, 190, Miami (Fla.)
Defense
DL (T) David Pollack, 6-2, 260, Georgia DL (T) Randy Starks, 6-5, 290, Maryland DL (T) Thomas Derricks, 6-1, 295, Northwestern DL (T) Lorenzo Alexander, 6-3, 280, Cal LB James King, 6-1, 195, Central Michigan* LB Jim Scharrer, 6-3, 233, Duke LB Kirk Morrison, 6-0, 230, San Diego State* DB (CB) Lornell McPherson, 5-9, 175, Nebraska* DB (CB) DeAngelo Hall, 6-0, 190, Virginia Tech DB (S) Jonas Buckles, 5-11, 213, North Texas* DB (S) Dustin Fox, 6-0, 190, Ohio State
Special teams
K Johnny Beck, 6-1, 200, Kansas P Jared Cook, 5-10, 185, Mississippi State* KR Dominique Dorsey, 5-8, 165, UNLV
* denotes redshirt freshman, otherwise true freshman
