Why USC Wide Receiver Robert Woods Will Demolish Pac-12 in 2012

The USC football team features one of college football's most electrifying wide receivers, Robert Woods. He is about to rock the Pac-12 on his way to a monstrous year in 2012 due to his elite skills and his special relationship with quarterback Matt Barkley.

Woods shocked the conference last year as a sophomore, hauling in 111 receptions for 1,292 yards (11.6 average) with 15 touchdowns. He added 17 kickoff returns for 393 yards (23.1 average), 13 punt returns for 118 yards (9.1 average) and seven carries for 16 yards (2.3 average), according to USCTrojans.com. 

He is blessed with maturity, speed and athleticism beyond what anyone hoped he'd bring to the table when he arrived—and there were high hopes to begin with. He can do it all out on the field, and there is no reason to think he isn't going to do anything other than build on last year's production.

Woods, Barkley and the Trojans have an opportunity to become legendary this year. 

Barkley has gotten better every year he's been at USC. He could have easily foregone his senior season. Had he done so, he would have likely been a top-10 draft pick in the 2012 NFL draft. 

Instead, Barkley chose to come back to play one final year with the Trojans because he knows they have a legitimate chance to win a national championship.

One of the key reasons that's a possibility is due to the fact that he and Woods are so good together on the offensive side of the ball. 

Barkley spoke about this last year, via USA Today: "We've got a pretty special relationship. He's just one of those players who has that 'it' factor. He makes plays with his feet that make me look good."

Woods had this to say about Barkley in the same article, talking about the immediate and special connection between the two talented young men last spring:

"

The timing was there. It was kind of just like Matt and I were playing catch out there at times. So I knew this season was going to be great. The timing was there, and it was starting to get easier for both of us.

"

Woods is still recovering from an ankle surgery he had last December. He and the team had hoped he'd be ready to fully participate in spring practice, but his recovery hasn't gone as expected and he's still dealing with a bit of inflammation, according to the Los Angeles Times.

There is no indication that Woods won't be fully ready for action once he's really needed next fall, though, and he should be ready to rock-and-roll.

Another reason Woods should dominate the Pac-12 next year is that he's not the only capable receiver on the squad. Marqise Lee was another surprisingly excellent player for the Trojans last year, hauling in 73 receptions for 1,143 yards and 11 touchdowns as a freshman, according to ESPN.com.

With the threat of two dynamic receivers, teams can't focus on Woods alone. They will have to respect both receivers' ability to take it to the house on any given play, which will force them to play honest defense with their safeties. 

Woods is going to have a field day with single coverage.

The 2012 season is going to be special for the Trojans, and Woods will have a lot to do with their success. His ability to make game-breaking plays at any given moment makes him a player to keep an eye on whether you're a USC fan or not. 

Stay tuned for what's sure to be a highlight-filled season for Woods and the Trojans offense as they destroy the rest of the Pac-12.

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