USD Football 1997

HE TWO-WAY PLAYER, A FOND MEMORY FROM A BYGONE ERA, IS MAKING SOMETHING OF A COMEBACK AS A RESULT OF NCAA NUMBER-CRUNCHING.

By Michael Bradley A sly smile starts to crease Charles Woodson's face when the topic of playing

"If you have a stud, you have to use him," said Ohio State coach John Cooper. He's right. That's why you'll find Buckeye sophomore Andy Katzenmoyer, one of the nation's top inside linebackers, taking some snaps at fullback in '97. At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds and

both ways comes up . After spending a half-hour in a room filled with Big Ten trophies and trying to explain why he and his Michigan Wolverine teammates haven't won one for a while, Woodson is happy to tackle a topic that he enjoys. 'Tm going to be doing more on offense this year," he said. "They're working on some things for me." Woodson wouldn't elaborate, but his message was clear. The Wolverines may not have too many answers for their recent four– year string of four-loss seasons, but they will certainly have plen– ty of options available for their outstanding junior comer– back-cum-wideout. Woodson, who merely dabbled on offense last year while solidifying his reputation as one of the nation's finest coverage men, should play a more featured role when Michi– gan has the ball this fall. Blessed with blinding speed and the kind of intangibles that separate the great ones from the pack. Woodson tantalized fans and Michigan coaches in 1996 with the occasional pass recep– tion or reverse. Now he wants more. And the Wolverine staff is prepared to give it to him. He won't be alone. What was a curious phenomenon through– out the country last year has become a full-fledged trend in 1997. With the BS-scholarship limit compressing the amount of tal– ent a school can carry on its roster, coaches are looking for cre– ative ways to get more from their players. When Michigan was faced with a largely inexperienced corps of receivers last year, it turned to Woodson, who was a two-way standout in high school. Kansas State did the same thing with its excellent comerback, Chris Canty, and Louisville used comer Sam Madison as a wideout. too.

blessed with tremendous speed for his size, Katzenmoyer could be a devastating blocker.

Michigan's Charles Woodson, one of the best defensive backs in the nation, lined up on both sides of the ball last season and is

enjoying an expanded le on offense for the

field," Cooper said. The Buckeyes could also use fleet receiv– er Daryl Boston at safety and Michael

turns at wide receiver during the spring, and new head coach Bob Davie has said he will use some of his receivers in the sec– ondary to thwart "Hail Mary" passes by oppo– nents. Look for North Carolina soph Dre' Bly,