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T.J. Woods

Position: Offensive Line Experience: 4th Year at USU Alma Mater: Azuza Pacific, 2002

Recruiting Area: Southern California

T.J. Woods is entering his fourth season at USU and his second with the Aggies' offensive line after coaching USU's tight ends and kickoff return his first two years.

"I continue to appreciate the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful community and a special football program under the leadership of Gary Andersen," Woods said.

The 2011 Aggies' offensive line cleared the way for a USU offense that established new school records for total offense (5,945 yards), rushing yards (3,675 yards), total points (437) and total TDs (60). Two of the Aggies' first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honorees were offensive linemen as center Tyler Larsen and Philip Gapelu collected first-team all-WAC accolades. The offensive line duo are the first pair of Aggie offensive linemen to earn first-team all-conference honors since 1997.

USU's offense led the WAC and ranked sixth in FBS in rushing offense (282.7 ypg), as well as second in the conference and 20th in the country in total offense (457.3 ypg), along with first in the league and 23rd in the nation in scoring offense (33.6 ppg). The offensive line led USU to ranking second in the WAC and 33rd in FBS in sacks allowed, a significant improvement from 2010 when they were ranked 71st in the country.

One of the many highlights for the 2011 Aggie offensive line was in the Nevada game on Nov. 26 when "The Legion," as the USU offensive line is affectionately called, helped the offense grind out the last 5:40 of the game, plowing the way for pivotal first downs to help the Aggies clinch their first bowl berth since 1997.

In addition to the tight ends, Woods also coached the USU kickoff return unit in 2009 and 2010, highlighted by Kerwynn Williams setting several Football Bowl Subdivision and Western Athletic Conference records, including single-season kickoff return yards (1,444) and single-season kickoff return yards per game (120.3). Williams led the WAC and ranked sixth in FBS in all-purpose yards per game (170.2) and also led the conference and ranked 21st in the country in kickoff return average (27.3), posting the ninth-best single-season all-purpose mark in the WAC with 2,042 yards. Williams was named to Phil Steele's College Football Review first-team all-WAC list at kick returner.

Woods came to USU from New Mexico, where he spent two seasons along side current Aggies offensive coordinator Matt Wells.

"He's been involved with our offense for a number of years, so he is familiar with what we do and how we do it here at Utah State," Andersen said. "Coach Woods is a great recruiter. He's from the Southern California area, and having grown up there and played there so that is his recruiting area and he has used his ties to recruit some high-caliber players to Utah State."

At New Mexico, Woods mentored junior center Erik Cook, who earned second-team all-Mountain West Conference honors, as well as offensive tackle Byron Bell, who was named to the 2008 CollegeFootballNews.com all-Freshman team.

Cook is currently playing for the Washington Redskins while Bell is starting on the Carolina Panters' offensive line.

In 2008, Woods coached center Vince Natali and offensive tackle Devin Clark, who both earned first-team all-MWC accolades. Natali is in entering his first season at offensive graduate assistant with USU.

Woods was an assistant coach at Citrus Junior College in Glendora, Calif., for one season before joining the New Mexico staff. At Citrus, he was the offensive line coach/running game coordinator, helping the Fighting Owls to the Western States Conference South Division title.

Prior to Citrus and beginning his coaching career at his alma mater of Azuza Pacific, Woods was the offensive line assistant coach for one season before spending two seasons as tight ends coach. While at Azuza Pacific, Woods helped the Cougars to the NAIA national semifinals, as well as mentoring 2005 NAIA All-American tight end Ricky Burgan.

Woods, a native of San Dimas, Calif., was a two-year letterwinner at offensive tackle at Azuza Pacific, garnering NAIA first-team All-America accolades as well as being named to the first-team Don Hansen's Football Gazette NAIA All-America list in 2002. That season he anchored a Cougar offense that amassed 400 yards per game, ranking 13th in the country and the offensive line unit only gave up 12 sacks all season, the fewest allowed by a Cougar team in six seasons.

Prior to Azuza Pacific, Woods was at Iowa State for one season, signing with the Cyclones after two standout seasons at Citrus College, where he earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America honors in 1999.

Woods earned his bachelor's degree in business from Azuza Pacific in 2002 and his master's degree in physical education in 2005, also from Azuza Pacific.

Woods is married to the former Kelly Williams.