Northwestern's Woodsum carried success to big stage

It's possible Mark Woodsum would have been a big-shot, superstar running back in a small college football program.

But the former Buffalo Grove High School star preferred to take a Big Ten shot with the likelihood of limited personal glory.

Woodsum walked on at Northwestern and eventually earned a scholarship with his work at its superback position. The final reward for the fifth-year senior and graduate student is the chance to play in the New Year's Day Outback Bowl against Auburn at 10 a.m. Friday in Tampa, Fla.

"It was a dream of mine to play in the Big Ten," Woodsum said. "When I got the opportunity, I took a chance to try to live out that dream.

"That's what I did, and I never looked back."

And the 6-foot, 230-pound Woodsum found success at Northwestern in a role that provides little or no glory to a player who has the guts for it.

His career totals of 21 yards rushing on 10 carries and 5 catches for 24 yards and a touchdown would have been a good quarter for Woodsum when he was a 2004 Daily Herald All-Area player at Buffalo Grove. But the superback role - combining tight end, fullback and H-back responsibilities - is a perfect fit for a player who willingly and successfully made the move from linebacker to defensive tackle as a high school senior.

"He has the enthusiasm and love for the game and willingness to do whatever it takes to be successful," said retired Buffalo Grove head coach Rich Roberts. "He's probably one of the best attitude kids I've ever had the opportunity to be around.

"He was one of those kids you never forget in your coaching career."

Woodsum played in the Buffalo Grove backfield as a sophomore with future Notre Dame star and Baltimore Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski. But Woodsum had no scholarship offers after a three-year varsity career.

There was interest from Division I-AA non-scholarship schools such as Drake and Dayton as well as Division II and III schools. Woodsum said Northwestern had also expressed interest throughout his senior year.

"They approached me and said we really like your ability and think you can fill a role for us," Woodsum said. "They were very upfront with me."

Northwestern coaches showed Woodsum tapes of the role being played at the time by former Downers Grove North star Erryn Cobb. Woodsum would also have to earn everything the hard way.

"In my career a number of players said they really wanted to try it, but there are a lot of negatives going against a walk-on," said Roberts, who is now an assistant at Barrington. "You're competing against scholarship players and there is a certain skepticism about walk-ons.

"We always felt, and talking with Kip (North, a former BG assistant coach), if any kid was going to make it, Mark would be the kid to make it at Northwestern."

Woodsum sat out his first year as a redshirt but achieved his goal of making an impression in practice the following spring. The late Randy Walker said Woodsum would get a scholarship as soon as one was available, which happened before his first season on the field.

And Woodsum understands the impact he can make even if he's on the field for less than 10 plays a game at superback.

"When I go into the game I know it's a critical point," Woodsum said of the position he referred to as a glorified offensive lineman. "Third (down) and short (yardage) or down at the goal line when we need things to go well for our offense.

"It's not an ego thing, but I take pride in having a small, defined role, a critically important role to our team."

Woodsum, who has also been a special teams mainstay, is in graduate school after earning his degree in June in environmental sciences with a minor in business institutions. The four-time academic all-Big Ten selection wants to work in resource management for the National Park Service or Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Woodsum figures being out in the wild is when he'll realize he's no longer a Northwestern Wildcat.

"I think it will hit me when I come back and go to classes in January," Woodsum said. "I know it will really hit me in August when I don't go to (preseason) camp.

"I know my last game as a Wildcat is on the horizon but I don't know if it will really sink in until the big milestones pass me by."

Milestones in what turned out to be a super choice for Woodsum at Northwestern.