Why Andrew Wood Chose Serving His Country over Big-Time College Football

Coaches recruited Andrew Wood to play college football on the biggest stage, something many high schoolers dream of each day.

But instead of suiting up in the SEC, Wood elected to represent his nation as a member of the United States Naval Academy. He officially reported to campus in Annapolis, Maryland, on July 1.

The Tennessee standout secured SEC scholarship offers as an underclassman; standing 6'4", 300 pounds, he possesses the necessary physical attributes to someday challenge for an NFL job as well. The opportunity to spend Saturdays at the center of 100,000-seat stadiums and eventually earn hefty paychecks for pushing opponents downfield lay ahead of him at 18 years old.

Vanderbilt, Virginia, Cal, Louisville, Syracuse, Purdue and Mississippi State were among more than a dozen FBS programs that pursued the offensive lineman.

He chose service—and a chance to fly.

"It's always been a dream of mine to become a pilot," Wood told Bleacher Report. "Now I have a great chance to take a step toward that."

Wood will still play Division I college football for the Midshipmen, who join the American Athletic Conference this season after an era of independent distinction. However, his post-collegiate expectations are quite different than if he had hitched his future to a different university.

He plans to lose approximately 60 pounds following his final college football snap, targeting weight requirements to become a naval aviator.

Mississippi State—a top contender that challenged Navy prior to Wood's November commitment announcement—produced five players selected in the 2015 NFL draft. It's the realization of an ultimate dream for very few athletes.

Needless to say, NFL scouts aren't looking for 240-pound linemen.

"My parents and I had a serious discussion about my goals in the football world and if I legitimately wanted to chase down a possible NFL career. I just think, aside from football, the Navy gives me an opportunity to accomplish more with my life," Wood said. "A chance to play in the NFL is great, but that's not my main concern right now."

Rated 45th nationally among offensive guards in composite 2015 recruiting rankings, he held scholarship offers from several universities after a sophomore season that saw him help the Friendship Christian School capture its second straight Class 2A Tennessee state title.

"All college coaches needed to do was watch his tape and the talent was clear," Friendship Christian head coach John McNeal said. "I've never had a kid dominate the line of scrimmage like Andrew. He moved the line of scrimmage, and that's hard to do. I still get amazed when I watch some of the film.

"Sometimes he'd push guys 10 yards down the field and I'd say, 'Hey, you don't have to take them that far, just bury them after five.' But that's the way Andrew plays the game," McNeal said. "When he gets his hands under a defender, they're pretty much done."

Even in early stages of his recruitment, Wood seemed destined to play in the country's most revered college football conference, the SEC. It had recently produced seven straight national champions and four of the past eight Heisman Trophy winners.

"There were plenty of people who expected him to end up at Vanderbilt, especially with the recruiting momentum that [former head coach] James Franklin was building at the time," said Maurice Patton, a longtime Nashville area reporter who primarily covers high school sports.

"As things progressed, you could tell Andrew was very academically inclined, and that Navy offer seemed to stand out for him," Patton said. "Even though we didn't know about his family background or what maybe drove Andrew toward Navy at that time, [his commitment] wasn't a huge shock. Still, it was certainly a surprise considering some of the other offers he had on the table."

Wood's recruiting clout turned McNeal's office into a revolving door for interested FBS assistants.

"College coaches were in here weekly for Andrew, and that's a process that continued until he announced a decision," McNeal said. "During his senior year, it was a very busy time with colleges coming after him."

By the end of a dominant 2014 campaign, Wood was a Tennessee Mr. Football award finalist among offensive linemen in his division. He spearheaded a rushing attack that produced nearly 4,000 yards on the ground last fall.

Wood officially announced a verbal commitment to the Midshipmen in late November. Not a single recruiting analyst correctly predicted his pledge in 247Sports' Crystal Ball, which favored Mississippi State.

Those in his inner circle understood Wood's personal affinity for Navy. His late grandfather, John Trimble, served with the military branch during the Korean War.

"I told my family early that no matter how many offers were sent to me, Navy would always be hard to beat," he said.

Andrew's older brother, Kyle, is approaching his fourth and final year at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where he plays baseball and football.

The two teamed up to win a state championship in 2011. They share the bond of brothers, teammates and, soon, servicemen.

Courtesy of Andrew Wood

"My family loves America, and we definitely have patriotic feelings. That doesn't mean any of us had to serve, but that's just what my brother and I were motivated to do," Kyle said.

Though Kyle's stature as a high school recruit didn't reach the levels Andrew experienced, he also considered life as a "regular" collegiate student-athlete. In-state opportunities couldn't measure up to a military route, inspired partially by his grandfather.

"Hearing the stories about my grandfather's military career didn't make us scared about the possibility of doing something similar. I think it actually encouraged us to become a part of that," Kyle said. "I remember feeling proud at his funeral. It was a military service. It was special for our family."

Courtesy of Andrew Wood

Though he lost his grandfather at a young age, Andrew carries a similar dedication to duty.

"It's important to have pride in your homeland and be willing to sacrifice things for the greater good," he said. "For me, that just means sacrificing the 'normal' college experience and growing up a little faster for something I've always wanted."

Andrew had the freedom to accept a no-expense college education and football career in practically every region of the country. Unlike service academies, there would be no post-graduate obligations.

Kyle can provide a firsthand account of how much different life as an athlete at a military institution can be compared to four years on a football-crazed SEC campus.

"You have to understand athletics aren't the first priority. Or even the second priority," he said. "Academics and military stuff can kind of push sports aside at times. You've got to be able to accept that and put in the work. That's something I think Andrew understands."

It's a setting that demands tremendous respect to detail on a daily basis. A lifestyle of regimentation isn't for everyone.

"I tell our kids all the time that no matter where they choose to go to college, they need to be able to handle the environment and what it demands from you," Coach McNeal said. "For Andrew, Navy was on top the entire time for all the right reasons. He had a lot of opportunities other kids would love to have, but when it came down to it, Andrew made the choice that made the most sense for his future goals."

Though Navy's football program isn't a perennial title contender or routinely featured in nationally televised showdowns, it does carry significant respectability in the college football landscape. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo has led the Midshipmen to three postseason bowl wins in seven full seasons at the helm.

This fall, the team faces frequent bowl game visitors like East Carolina, Houston and Notre Dame. Navy also makes a late September trip to the University of Connecticut, where Kyle plans to be in attendance.

"It will be a proud moment to see him in that uniform," he said.

Still, will there be moments when Andrew looks back and re-examines his decision not to travel the road that may have led directly to NFL opportunities?

"I asked him whether he wanted to possibly play in the NFL or take on a career in the Navy. His heart went with Navy," Kyle said. "As much as I would've loved to watch him compete against the country's top players in the SEC, the Naval Academy is the right fit for Andrew. It's where he's always wanted to be, and you have to respect that."

Courtesy of Andrew Wood.

Many prized football prospects arrive on campus as freshmen looking forward to reaching the professional pinnacle of America's favorite sport. Wood's aim is upward, where a determined—and thinner—Andrew plans to reach long-imagined altitudes when he's done knocking around defenders.

Challenges far greater than mastering Navy's complicated triple-option offensive attack await Andrew in Annapolis.

He's opted to embrace the sacrifice.

"It's going to be really tough, and I'm sure there will be some days when I hate it, but it's important to focus on the bigger picture," Andrew said. "For me, that involves more than football."

All quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue.