BACK

There’s good reason USC Coach Pete Carroll and UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel each offered a scholarship to Gardena Serra defensive back Robert Woods -- before the start of his junior season.

He is the best in the Southland for what he does -- which is why he has been selected The Times’ back of the year.

Woods, 6 feet 1 and 175 pounds, made 87 tackles and seven interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

On offense, he caught 81 passes for 1,378 yards and 19 touchdowns.

On special teams, he returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and returned two punts for touchdowns.

In the Northwest Division championship game against Westlake Village Oaks Christian, Woods scored three touchdowns in a 63-28 loss, about the only disappointment during the Cavaliers’ 13-1 season.

“I’m not sure there was any player who had as complete a year,” Serra Coach Scott Altenberg said. “His stats represent how he affected every aspect of the game.”

With speed, agility and athleticism, Woods showed he was also versatile, dependable and durable.

-- Eric Sondheimer