Spring Break
The Daily OrangeRace | Tiny D-2 running back newest to top of NCAA rushing list
By Bill Palka
Posted: 10/30/07, 12:34 AM EST Section: Sports
Danny Woodhead has changed the way people look at Chadron (Neb.) State College.
On Oct. 6, Woodhead became the all-time leading rusher in NCAA history when he ran 34 times for 208 yards against Western New Mexico for Division II Chadron. The performance helped Woodhead pass R.J. Bowers' national record of 7,353 career rushing yards. Woodhead now has 7,555 rushing yards and 103 total touchdowns in his four-year career at CSC.
Woodhead is listed at 5-foot-9 (he said it's probably more between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-8) and was shunned by Division I schools in the recruiting process because of his size. He was most notably turned away by Nebraska, a team Woodhead grew up rooting for. Leading up to and after his record-breaking game, Chadron has seen media attention that the northwest Nebraska town of 5,600 is not accustomed to.
Yet with all the changes around him, Woodhead seems to have remained the same.
"It was really cool," Woodhead said of setting the national record. "It was something that really got us out there and got Chadron State College out there. Something that really doesn't happen very much, or ever, around here."
After breaking the rushing record, Woodhead calmly played off his accomplishment and continued focusing on his team's success. After being told he was too small to compete at the D-I level, Woodhead has let his game do the talking. As a true freshman, he rushed for 1,840 yards and had 27 total touchdowns. It was the beginning of an illustrious career that would gain Woodhead national recognition. He acknowledges it, but never puts himself before his teammates.
"That's just the way he is," CSC head coach Bill O'Boyle said. "He's a very humble kid. He's the perfect team-type player. Nothing's about individual records with him; it's more of what are we doing team-wise, and I think that's something special about him."
Not only has Chadron attracted the national media (including a fairly large blurb on Woodhead in the Oct. 22 issue of Sports Illustrated), but Woodhead has drawn the attention of NFL scouts to the small town. True to his personality, Woodhead tries to avert his eyes from those analyzing his talent.
"I don't really think that would be fair to my team if I was focusing on my future," Woodhead said. "I've got plenty of time for that after the season. That's when all that stuff will be more important."
Having to worry about NFL scouts is something Woodhead never envisioned. He weighed 180 pounds his senior year of high school (he now weighs 200) and just wanted to be part of a football team. People talked to him about the NFL during his sophomore year, but it was not something Woodhead thought was possible until his junior season. That's when his numbers told him he was a special player.
In 2006, Woodhead rushed for 2,756 yards and scored 38 total touchdowns. That season's performance earned him the Harlon Hill Trophy, the D-II equivalent to the Heisman. Walking around Chadron would never be the same.
"(People come up to me) quite a bit, but that comes with the territory," Woodhead said. "It really doesn't bother me that much. It's nice to know that people are recognizing our football team, and that makes things really cool for us."
As Woodhead's career progresses, the focus is not so much on his height but on his speed. He has been timed at 4.43 in the 40-yard dash, a speed D-II defenders cannot match. O'Boyle said Woodhead should probably be a D-I back. He added that Woodhead's height, a trait that has consistently worked against him, now works in his advantage.
"He's tough to find," O'Boyle said. "When you're looking through everybody up front on our offensive line, when he gets behind our combination blocks, he's a tough kid to find. And by that time with his speed if he can get an angle on you or get to the side, he's gone."
Woodhead knows he has a long way to go in order to succeed in the NFL. He is always looking to get stronger, faster and increase his football knowledge. One aspect he is trying to improve is his blocking, a task that will be vital to professional success. If Woodhead makes the NFL, he will be only the second player from CSC to do so, the first being former Bills' receiver Don Beebe.
Throughout all the national attention, Woodhead is able to keep a sense of humor. In an article appearing in The New York Times Aug. 26, CSC wide receiver Landon Ehlers jokingly told the reporter that Woodhead played video games in their off-campus house in the nude. Woodhead remained unfazed, just as he has been to those who have doubted him his entire life.
"It's something that he usually says," Woodhead said. "It's just one of my buddies trying to be a jokester. Stuff like that you've got to expect and just laugh at it."
No. 3 LSU (-7.5) at No. 17 Alabama
Saturday, 5:00 p.m., CBS
Alabama is lucky this game is in Tuscaloosa or else 'Bama head coach Nick Saban would need extra sideline security. Saban faces his former team for the first time since turning his back on LSU to jump to the NFL. The Tigers will begin their stretch run with a convincing win over the Crimson Tide.
Pick: LSU 31, Alabama 20
No. 6 Arizona State at No. 4 Oregon (-7)
Saturday, 6:45 p.m., FSN
The biggest match in the Pac-10 to date this season. The winner will be the clear-cut favorite to win the conference as well as a dark horse for the national championship. Oregon's offense is like nothing Arizona State has seen this season and will hand the Sun Devils their first loss of the year.
Pick: Oregon 35, Arizona State 23
No. 15 Texas (-3) at Oklahoma State
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC
The Longhorns barely escaped a troubled Nebraska team at home last week. Look for them to rebound against the Cowboys, a team Mack Brown has not lost to since becoming Texas head coach in 1998.
Pick: Texas 38, Oklahoma State 28
Florida State at No. 2 Boston College (-6.5)
Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC
Matt Ryan's heroics in the final minutes Thursday elevated his Heisman credentials and gained his team some respect. Florida State has the ability to upset, but betting against a Boston sports team doesn't seem like a great idea these days.
Pick: Boston College 34, Florida State 17
Syracuse at Pittsburgh (-12)
Saturday, Noon, TW 26
In a battle of head coaches on the hot seat, the loser of this one will have many questions to answer. Expect an ugly football game between two teams trying to make the statement that they are not the worst team in the Big East.
Pick: Pittsburgh 21, Syracuse 16
On Oct. 6, Woodhead became the all-time leading rusher in NCAA history when he ran 34 times for 208 yards against Western New Mexico for Division II Chadron. The performance helped Woodhead pass R.J. Bowers' national record of 7,353 career rushing yards. Woodhead now has 7,555 rushing yards and 103 total touchdowns in his four-year career at CSC.
Woodhead is listed at 5-foot-9 (he said it's probably more between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-8) and was shunned by Division I schools in the recruiting process because of his size. He was most notably turned away by Nebraska, a team Woodhead grew up rooting for. Leading up to and after his record-breaking game, Chadron has seen media attention that the northwest Nebraska town of 5,600 is not accustomed to.
Yet with all the changes around him, Woodhead seems to have remained the same.
"It was really cool," Woodhead said of setting the national record. "It was something that really got us out there and got Chadron State College out there. Something that really doesn't happen very much, or ever, around here."
After breaking the rushing record, Woodhead calmly played off his accomplishment and continued focusing on his team's success. After being told he was too small to compete at the D-I level, Woodhead has let his game do the talking. As a true freshman, he rushed for 1,840 yards and had 27 total touchdowns. It was the beginning of an illustrious career that would gain Woodhead national recognition. He acknowledges it, but never puts himself before his teammates.
"That's just the way he is," CSC head coach Bill O'Boyle said. "He's a very humble kid. He's the perfect team-type player. Nothing's about individual records with him; it's more of what are we doing team-wise, and I think that's something special about him."
Not only has Chadron attracted the national media (including a fairly large blurb on Woodhead in the Oct. 22 issue of Sports Illustrated), but Woodhead has drawn the attention of NFL scouts to the small town. True to his personality, Woodhead tries to avert his eyes from those analyzing his talent.
"I don't really think that would be fair to my team if I was focusing on my future," Woodhead said. "I've got plenty of time for that after the season. That's when all that stuff will be more important."
Having to worry about NFL scouts is something Woodhead never envisioned. He weighed 180 pounds his senior year of high school (he now weighs 200) and just wanted to be part of a football team. People talked to him about the NFL during his sophomore year, but it was not something Woodhead thought was possible until his junior season. That's when his numbers told him he was a special player.
In 2006, Woodhead rushed for 2,756 yards and scored 38 total touchdowns. That season's performance earned him the Harlon Hill Trophy, the D-II equivalent to the Heisman. Walking around Chadron would never be the same.
"(People come up to me) quite a bit, but that comes with the territory," Woodhead said. "It really doesn't bother me that much. It's nice to know that people are recognizing our football team, and that makes things really cool for us."
As Woodhead's career progresses, the focus is not so much on his height but on his speed. He has been timed at 4.43 in the 40-yard dash, a speed D-II defenders cannot match. O'Boyle said Woodhead should probably be a D-I back. He added that Woodhead's height, a trait that has consistently worked against him, now works in his advantage.
"He's tough to find," O'Boyle said. "When you're looking through everybody up front on our offensive line, when he gets behind our combination blocks, he's a tough kid to find. And by that time with his speed if he can get an angle on you or get to the side, he's gone."
Woodhead knows he has a long way to go in order to succeed in the NFL. He is always looking to get stronger, faster and increase his football knowledge. One aspect he is trying to improve is his blocking, a task that will be vital to professional success. If Woodhead makes the NFL, he will be only the second player from CSC to do so, the first being former Bills' receiver Don Beebe.
Throughout all the national attention, Woodhead is able to keep a sense of humor. In an article appearing in The New York Times Aug. 26, CSC wide receiver Landon Ehlers jokingly told the reporter that Woodhead played video games in their off-campus house in the nude. Woodhead remained unfazed, just as he has been to those who have doubted him his entire life.
"It's something that he usually says," Woodhead said. "It's just one of my buddies trying to be a jokester. Stuff like that you've got to expect and just laugh at it."
Palka's Picks
No. 3 LSU (-7.5) at No. 17 Alabama
Saturday, 5:00 p.m., CBS
Alabama is lucky this game is in Tuscaloosa or else 'Bama head coach Nick Saban would need extra sideline security. Saban faces his former team for the first time since turning his back on LSU to jump to the NFL. The Tigers will begin their stretch run with a convincing win over the Crimson Tide.
Pick: LSU 31, Alabama 20
No. 6 Arizona State at No. 4 Oregon (-7)
Saturday, 6:45 p.m., FSN
The biggest match in the Pac-10 to date this season. The winner will be the clear-cut favorite to win the conference as well as a dark horse for the national championship. Oregon's offense is like nothing Arizona State has seen this season and will hand the Sun Devils their first loss of the year.
Pick: Oregon 35, Arizona State 23
No. 15 Texas (-3) at Oklahoma State
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC
The Longhorns barely escaped a troubled Nebraska team at home last week. Look for them to rebound against the Cowboys, a team Mack Brown has not lost to since becoming Texas head coach in 1998.
Pick: Texas 38, Oklahoma State 28
Florida State at No. 2 Boston College (-6.5)
Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC
Matt Ryan's heroics in the final minutes Thursday elevated his Heisman credentials and gained his team some respect. Florida State has the ability to upset, but betting against a Boston sports team doesn't seem like a great idea these days.
Pick: Boston College 34, Florida State 17
Syracuse at Pittsburgh (-12)
Saturday, Noon, TW 26
In a battle of head coaches on the hot seat, the loser of this one will have many questions to answer. Expect an ugly football game between two teams trying to make the statement that they are not the worst team in the Big East.
Pick: Pittsburgh 21, Syracuse 16
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