DB target J.T. Woods: Baylor energy felt before spring game

Two assets that Baylor football has loved traditionally -- speed and athleticism.

Those who know Cibolo Steele High School's J.T. Woods are well aware that when it comes to those attributes, he excels. As a football player and track athlete, he brings both speed and athleticism to the table -- as well as an infectious hunger to win.

Baylor believes he'd fit in well. And the feeling is reciprocated.

"The first time I stepped on campus ... I don't know what it was, but I was like, 'Wow,'" said Woods, who was one of several athletes in attendance for Saturday's Green & Gold Game. "I've visited Baylor the most out of any other school. [Saturday] was my third time there."

There's a noticeable connection between the Baylor coaching staff and Woods, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound safety with a linebacker aggressiveness and sprinter speed. Woods can play cornerback, as well, but he said he's being recruited as as a safety.

His first trip to Baylor was for junior day, where he enjoyed everything about the visit. He made a return visit shortly after. Both trips were made without Woods having an offer from coach Matt Rhule. On April 4, he received the good news of landing an offer.

"It's my first Power 5 offer," he said. "It was really just a shock, definitely a surprise. That was something I've been looking for for a while."

Woods, who now has 10 offers, has built a good relationship with several of the Baylor coaches, including Rhule, co-offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas, defensive backs coach Fran Brown, offensive line coach George DeLeone and defensive coordinator Phil Snow.
He said the coaches are easy to like, as there's an unexplainable fire in each of them that makes a recruit interested in being a part of the family.

"Listening to all the coaches, that's what made me want to go back," he said. "I mean, I went back without an offer because I liked it so much. The players, the coaches, the atmosphere, everything about it I loved."



The first minutes of Woods' highlight tape from his junior year gives everything you want to know about him as a football player. He's a disruptive defender who plays downhill in run plays and someone who is a threat to make a game-changing play when the ball is in the air. Woods helped Steele earn a 14-2 record and advance to the Class 6A Division II state championship game in December.

"Fast and physical," Woods said. "That's how I'd describe my game. I just play at 100 miles per hour."

Academically, Woods has a 3.7 grade-point average in the classroom. Stanford is a school that has shown early interest but has yet to offer. Woods said he is looking to visit Stanford in June.

Woods said Baylor "definitely is up there" on his recruiting list, but in-state schools like Houston and Texas State and Ivy League opportunities like Columbia and Brown will be strongly considered. He said he's looking to get a great education first, with building a strong football legacy being a close second on his priority list.

Additionally, Woods said he's looking to play football and compete in track at the next level. As a hurdler, he's recorded a personal-best time of 13.89 in the 110-meter hurdles. As a sprinter, he's finished the 100 meters in 10.4 seconds and the 200 meters in 21.7 seconds.

Woods could be a big get for the Bears -- in both sports -- if all works as planned.

"Whatever school I go to, I want it to fill in all the checkmarks," he said. "I want to be somewhere I can thrive. I want to be somewhere where I know the coaches will make you better and know they care about you.

"I know I want to be committed between now and June. Baylor is up there, but I don't want to rule out any other schools or options. I want to take my time."

Damon Sayles is a feature columnist for SicEm365. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles