The No. 1 question facing the
Leander (Texas) football team entering the 2012 season was how in the world would they replace District 16-5A Offensive MVP Andres Barrera.
With 15 starters returning, coach Clint Harper said it would be by committee.
Boy has
Caleb Woodward been some committee.
Caleb Woodward, Leander
File photo by Jim Redman
The versatile 6-foot-1, 190-pound (fill-in-the-blank) played receiver, defensive back, running back and backup quarterback last season for the Lions, when they finished 8-4 in Harper's first season.
This year, Harper has put his most talented player in utter control — at quarterback — and the Texas Tech-bound standout has led the Lions to a 4-1 start.
For his dominating start, Woodward has been selected the Austin Area Capital One Bank High Yield Student Athlete of the Week.
Not a natural passer, he's completed almost 60 percent of his passes (22 of 37) for 360 yards including three touchdowns and one interception.
Most of his damage has been done on the ground with 822 yards on 139 carries (164 yards per game) and 11 touchdowns.
Even in defeat — a 14-10 setback to Cedar Park — Woodward played well last week completing 7 of 11 passes and rushing for 171 yards and the team's lone touchdown.
He started the season with a 164-yard, 3-touchdown performance against Pflugerville Connally and followed up with 136 more rushing yards and two scores in a 35-0 victory over Hendrickson.
But where he really raised some eyebrows was with a remarkable 44-carry, 307-yard effort in a 28-7 win over Manor.
"That was for my grandpa," he told reporters after the game. "He's been having some heart problems so I played for him. Thankfully my offensive line gave me plenty of holes to run through."
Considering Woodward wasn't a proven commodity coming into the season — he had less than 300 yards rushing and six touchdowns — Texas Tech might have been taking a big chance.
Not so, Harper said.
"Caleb has played every position we have asked him to since he's been playing for us," he told the Austin Statesmen. "And he hasn't only played them; he's played them well.
"They definitely recruited him because of his athleticism."
While some young athletes would see playing multiple positions as a disadvantage, Woodward said playing all the positions has helped him with reads and coverages.
"I really have an understanding of the entire game and not just one position's viewpoint," he told the Statesmen.
