Picking UCLA an Interesting Move for Top Dual-Threat QB Asiantii Woulard

One of the more interesting recruiting races in the recent month was for the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback, Asiantii Woulard (Winter Park, Fl., Winter Park) who had suitors from coast to coast.

UCLA was thought to have the upper-hand on Clemson for the 6-3 204-pound signal caller heading into national signing day, and when Woulard appeared on ESPN wearing a UCLA jacket and hat, that thought became a reality.

Bruins head coach Jim Mora once coached Michael Vick in the NFL, and may see some of Vick in Woulard and undoubtedly sold Woulard on how he would be able to tap into his potential and develop him as a quarterback to get to the next level.

Unfortunately for Woulard, at UCLA he likely will not be a starter right away with redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Hundley coming off a 29-touchdown season with nine more coming on the ground in a nine-win season.

However, I think the best thing for Woulard is to get to college and redshirt his first season. As much as players want to come to college and start as soon as they set foot on campus, that often isn’t a reality, especially at the quarterback position. He has a very live arm and can make all the throws, but he’s also very raw and he needs to improve his footwork in the pocket and display more consistency after only two years of starting at quarterback in high school.

Woulard is so athletic he conceivably could play wide receiver and defensive back if necessary, but he will be a nice fit in Mora’s offense as a quarterback because of his ability to scramble and make plays with his feet. Nonetheless, he’s going to have to be extremely patient.

Best-case scenario, he can be to UCLA what Braxton Miller was to Ohio State or what Johnny Manziel was to Texas A&M, but I thought with Tajh Boyd leaving Clemson after this season, Woulard would pick the Tigers after redshirting in 2013 and start as a redshirt freshman in 2014 rather than sit on the bench in Westwood.

Nevertheless, UCLA is getting a tremendous quarterback prospect and Woulard said he will relish the opportunity to compete with another young quarterback at UCLA, and I give him a lot of credit for taking on that challenge.

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Patrick is the host of “The Wake-up Call,” on Sportstownchicago.com airing Wednesday mornings from 8-10. View his show’s website here.