Football: Kalib Woods’ absence will be felt
Woods, who was recently suspended from the team because of an arrest for battery, led the team in receptions last season.
Rising senior wide receiver Kalib Woods (4) led the team in receiving a season ago. Photo by Max Jackson
June 19, 2017
FAU football’s passing game may take a huge dip this upcoming season, as the Owls’ best wideout Kalib Woods has been suspended “indefinitely” after getting arrested last Tuesday for an alleged battery charge.
Woods was the Owls’ best receiver last season and was one of the best in the conference. As one of the most used receivers on the team, his 68 receptions ranked eighth among all of Conference USA’s wide receivers and led the Owls.
Woods’ 934 yards this past season was seventh in the conference, but for all the yardage he gained, he was highly ineffective in the red zone. The recently named captain only caught one touchdown this past season, which ranked last among the top-ten receivers in the conference.
As the starting quarterback job is starting to heat up for this season between junior quarterback Jason Driskel and recently acquired transfer De’Andre Johnson, Driskel’s performance may be affected by Woods’ suspension if it continues. Thirty-four percent of Driskel’s completed passes were to Woods.
The Owls’ offense will be heavily run-based this season behind running backs Devin Singletary and Greg “Buddy” Howell. However, Woods would be the perfect target, especially on third and long situations. Standing at 6-foot-3, the Jacksonville native’s height will be heavily missed.
Woods is only the second tallest on the roster behind senior Nate Terry (6-foot-7), but Terry was not as statistically effective as Woods. The Homestead native caught only 17 passes for 242 yards.
The Owls second-leading receiver last year was sophomore Tavaris Harrison, who caught just 18 passes. His 304 yards were just half of of what Woods amassed over the season.
As of right now, Woods has been suspended “indefinitely” by the team and any added length to the suspension and/or further punishments will be based on the outcome of his trial. Woods is set to appear at the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Complex at 3228 Gun Club Road in West Palm Beach on June 27.
Hans Belot Jr. is the sports editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @Don_Phenom_.
Nicky Sabanatic • Jun 27, 2017 at 2:23 pm
I wonder if new head ball coach Mr. Kiffin will go rummaging through the big boys’ trash again to acquire some more upstanding young men that like to handle their business by assaulting and mistreating women….. boo to that! Hopefully Kiffin has turned a new leaf and won’t regress back to his alleged true colors at Tennessee, Oakland, USC, Alabama, etc. As an Owl fan, I am concerned! Bring back the days of good ol’ Schnelly and Rusty and back-to-back bowl victories!!