WOODSON WANTS TO BE LIKE KURT PDF Print E-mail
Written by Bob Phillips   
Monday, 21 June 2010

University of Kentucky Athletics

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The Colonials' Andre Dixon is hoping to become the UFL's version of Kurt Warner.
EAST HARTFORD – The United Football League would seem to be made for someone like Andre Woodson. The former first team ESPN.com All-American who garnered support for Heisman Trophy consideration while playing quarterback for the University of Kentucky turned out to be a great college player, but a mediocre performance at the Senior Bowl left NFL scouts questioning his mechanics and throwing motion. (Can you say “Tim Tebow?”)

And so, after a sterling collegiate career in which he threw for over 9,300 yards, passed for a school record 81 touchdowns and was picked just 25 times, Woodson slipped down to the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft (No. 198 overall) by the New York Giants.

"It's been a tough road for me," Woodson told Chip Cosby of the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader and www.kentucky.com. "I thought I'd be going in the top 15 of the first round at one point, and when the draft came, I was sure I'd go no later than the third round."

Originally drafted to compete for the job as Eli Manning’s understudy, Woodson was beaten out by David Carr, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 Draft, and was released in October. However, Woodson was re-signed by the Giants to play on the practice squad, where he struck up a relationship with then-Giants quarterbacks coach and current Hartford Colonials head coach Chris Palmer.

After spending a year on the Giants’ practice squad roster, Woodson moved on to Washington where he spent some time on the Redskins’ practice squad, but didn’t stick there, either. Entering 2010 without a professional home, but still only 26 years old, the 6-4, 230-lb. Woodson is hoping to become the UFL’s version of Kurt Warner, who was reclamated from NFL Europe and Arena Football to become an NFL superstar and sure-fire future Hall of Famer.

"Coach Palmer told me that if nothing worked out he wanted me to come play for him," Woodson said. "He's running the same offense he ran in New York, and I know that offense very well."

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Former UConn tailback Andre Dixon is another Colonials player with name recognition. (Photo by Brian Pohorylo)
Woodson, who recently took part in the Colonials’ mini-camp held in Berlin, joins UConn running back Andre Dixon as players with a collegiate cache (Dixon gained over 1,000 yards as a senior and was named MVP of the Papajohns.com Bowl) looking for a crack at the big time by displaying their talents in the UFL. Former NFL starting quarterback Josh McKown (Bears) is competing with Woodson for playing time on the Colonials.

The Colonials open their first season in the UFL (last season the team was located in the metro New York area and was known as the New York Sentinels) on Sat., Sept. 18, when they will entertain the Sacramento Mountain Lions at Rentschler Field. Kick-off time is still to be determined.

Among notable UFL players and coaches currently signed for the 2010 season are former Giants head coach Jim Fassel (head coach, Las Vegas Locomotives), former Vikings and Cardinals head coach Dennis Green (head coach, Sacramento), former NFL star quarterback Dante Culpepper (Sacramento), and four-time NFL Pro Bowl running back Ahman Green (Omaha Nighthawks).

 
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