USC Football: Robert Woods Sets School For Most Career Catches

Oct 20, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans receiver Robert Woods (2) scores on a 29-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

He only needed five catches to surpass Dwayne Jarrett’s 216 and become USC’s new leader in caught passes.

In just two quarters, WR Robert Woods had those five, and then some. He set the record on a 17-yard touchdown play.

To the Washington Post earlier in the week, Woods spoke about the impending possibility of setting the record.

“Growing up watching all the USC receivers—Jarrett, Steve Smith, Mike Williams, all those great guys—it’s special to be a part of that,” Woods said. “It’s a blessing that I could do it in just 2 1/2 (seasons). I hope I can do it on Saturday at home.”

Well Mr. Woods, you got your wish. And he did it in eight fewer games than Jarrett did.

The Trojans welcome the Colorado Buffaloes to the Coliseum for just their third home game in seven weeks of football, a game USC is likely to win big, and one that set up Woods and QB Matt Barkley to set a few records along the way.

Woods dazzled fans and analysts alike last season with his 111 catches for 1292 yards and 15 touchdowns, and his presence in the Trojan offense often proved to be too much for opposing defenses to contain. Through six games in 2012, he has 36 receptions for 360 yards and five touchdowns, a significant drop-off from last season, though by no fault of his own. USC’s offense this year is much more multi-faceted than it was last year, now with fellow WR Marqise Lee having emerged as a star in his own right and with RBs Curtis McNeal and Silas Redd being unstoppable on the ground. Woods has embraced his new role with the Trojans however, and surely setting a USC record in front of a sold-out home crowd makes it all worth it.

Like for Barkley, Woods received a video montage of congratulations from former Trojan David Ausberry, Chris Paul, Luc Robitaille, Blale Griffin, Landon Donovan, and Keyshawn Johnson.

In setting this record, Woods will likely receive plenty of postseason accolades, and will find his name in the conversation of where he ranks as one of the greatest Trojan receivers of all time.

UPDATE: In the third quarter, Robert Woods set his second record of the night when he caught a 3-yard pass in the endzone, his fourth of the night. He now is USC’s record holder for most TDs caught in one game, having beat the previous record–which he also held–of three.