You probably all ready know this, but Pete Carroll has it all. He's got college football's most talented player in Reggie Bush. Matt Leinart is cooler under pressure than the Pepsi in my fridge – with oxen worthy of the Oregon Trail protecting him. He also has thirteen feet of underclassmen wide-receiver talent. First-string running backs split carries and play special teams just to be a part of this team. And that's just the offensive side of the ball. He's also got a shape-shifter, a player who takes on any role the team needs to succeed – Andre Woodert, a leader both on and off the field.

Woodert is a 6-foot, 220-pound senior whose main role on the team is to not have a defined role. Listed as a running back on the depth chart, he consequently finds himself vying for playing time on the deepest corps of backs in the country.

"We've got guys on the field that can do amazing things," He said, hanging around Heritage Hall after work, "I'm going to work hard and plug myself in wherever I can." So in practice Woodert mimics All-Americans; last year he was J.J. Arrington, Adrian Peterson and Maurice Drew, to name a few. Certainly flattering company, but that only scratches the surface of his talents.

"That's a given, I'm going to be a work horse," he said. "You try to help out every opportunity you can, every time it presents itself. Building a good rapport with the team, try to know as much as I can about the system. So if players have questions in the heat of the game you can communicate things better between the coaches and players, and give positive input in the game situation."

Ask Woodert about his position and he'll tell you that his first responsibility is not on the playing field. "My bigger role on the team is leadership, showing the younger guys what it's about," he said.

Off the field he's accompanied nervous freshman to their first MRIs and tutored some of the guys on the team to help them meet their academic standards. However, it was a conflict of interest from the NCAA and not an inability on Andre's part that put an end to the study sessions: As physically gifted as Andre may be, he is first and foremost at USC on an academic scholarship. A kinesiology major, with a very cerebral philosophy minor, he spends his free time – the few moments aside from working nearly full time on campus, lifting weights four times a week and attending the optional summer workouts – reading, writing poetry, relaxing with friends and getting in touch with his spirituality.

Just as he would help players deal with the stresses of college football, he provides religious outlets for them as well. "It is important to get them plugged into God's system, and how He could and should fit into their experience here," Woodert said. Showing teammates the religious outlet, rather than shoving it in their face, Woodert keeps football in perspective with the greater picture.

"God plays a large role in everything that is life, so if football becomes a part of life then He becomes a huge role in that," he said. Coach Carroll taps into Woodert's maturity level. He uses the multitalented Woodert in yet another team position — leading the players in the pre-game prayer or pep talk.

But don't confuse Woodert's many roles on the team as an outlet for a player who does not want — or have the physical gifts — to get on the field. He attacks the weight room with the same vigor he has for his studies. The results are Lance Armstrong-esque 5-percent body fat on a 220-pound frame, with a GPA just as impressive. Although he would love playing time, Woodert said he cherishes the experience of playing for one of the current and all-time great programs in America.

"I get to say, I used to play with that guy, he used to hit me all day in practice," he said, "You can't put a price on that."

Next February will be an important time in Andre's life, because while he may not have the carries to impress NFL scouts, he does have the physique and psyche that they look for. Matt Cassel, career USC back-up QB, was drafted by the New England Patriots, even though Heisman winning QB Jason White was still available.

While Woodert sees that as an opportunity, he also plans on going to grad school after the year. Currently he's training hard to get the 3 inches he needs to break Troy Polomalu's vertical jump record of 43 inches, but admits that he's about three-tenths of a second behind Reggie in the 40 yard dash.

Most likely this year you'll find Andre on the sideline, possibly getting in on special teams or hopefully getting the carries he deserves late in the game. What you will not find is Andre sulking on the sideline. You will see him giving advice to confused players, closing the communication gap between coach and player and doing whatever it takes for USC to win. As for life outside of tenths, inches, yards and pounds, Andre is more concerned about something slower and less objective.

Or as he put it, "Just trying to perfect this walk we call life."