UCLA: Safety E.J. Woods no longer a Bruin, will transfer to Santa Monica College
UCLA announced today that safety E.J. Woods is no longer part of the team.
Woods, a 19-year-old from Encino Crespi High, said in a telephone interview today that he will transfer to Santa Monica College, enrolling this afternoon, with intentions to be there through December before attempting to enroll in another four-year university in the Pac-10 to play football next season.
Woods said he will not try to rejoin the UCLA football team.
“I wouldn’t come back [to UCLA],” Woods said. “I’m definitely going to try to come back to the Pac-10. I’m going to work extremely hard this year in junior college to get better physically, get better mentally and just to mature a little bit, and then go back to a four-year, finish my time there and then go to the NFL. That’s the plan.”
When asked which Pac-10 schools he was considering, the only one he mentioned was USC. When asked why he was interested in the Trojans, he said their defensive style of play suited him better.
“I’m more in-the-box, coming off the edge, playing like … Troy Polamalu.” Polamalu is a former Trojan and current Pittsburgh Steelers safety.
Currently, Woods is facing six charges of battery and sexual battery stemming from three incidents at off-campus apartments between October and January, said a spokesman in the the Los Angeles city attorney’s office. Woods' pre-trial hearing will be held on July 31, the spokesman added.
Of his decision to leave the Bruins, Woods said, “It has nothing to do with UCLA’s program. UCLA is a great, great, great program, an upcoming program. They’re going to shock a lot of people this year.
“I just felt like just wasn’t a fit for me. I told [UCLA head football coach Rick] Neuheisel that and he understood and that’s why he let me do my thing.”
-- Baxter Holmes
Photo: Crespi's E.J. Woods gets a first down against Long Beach Poly in the first half in the Pac-5 Division championship football game at the Home Depot Center on December 8,2007. Photo credit: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times.
6 counts of battery and sexual assault? urghh ... OJ was a long time ago kid...you will never be coming to USC ...
Posted by: USC Admissions | July 02, 2009 at 03:09 PM
Fauria, EJ Woods, Lucky Radley...Crespi, what kind of men are you producing?
Posted by: Pac 5 Fan | July 02, 2009 at 04:15 PM
I hope that Saint Peter can turn this young man around as he has so many others. Good luck DJ woods!
Posted by: woodspecker | July 02, 2009 at 10:20 PM
People deserve a second chance. If he gets in with a good program, hangs with some good people, and does the right things, USC wouldn't be out of the question. But it'll take a lot of work and self control. It sounds like an anger management session or two might help, as would some community service. SMC was a good choice, so let's not write him off just yet.
Posted by: Tom | July 02, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Everyone deserves a second chance, but first they have to prove that they've learned their lesson and have straightened up.
Posted by: gerrrg | July 02, 2009 at 10:55 PM
in response to Pac 5 fan; Crespi is the same school that produced Kevin Prince, Troy Thomas, Ed Marek, Chris McGee, Bob Kettles, and about 1400 men during it's 50 years of existence.
Fauria's error in judgment seems to be a juvenile college stunt. Lesson learned. He'll be fine. EJ needs to grow up and whoever is mentoring him should sit him down and tell him keep quiet until he gets his life in check. Radley is a great athlete but didn't want to participate in the full Crespi experience. I think he needs to receive better counsel by those who influence him, as well.
Sorry for the tangent. Happy 4th all.
Posted by: joe | July 03, 2009 at 09:51 AM
EJ had SEVERAL chances at UCLA ... did you people not read the facts? He was arrested or cited on numerous occasions, this was not an isolated event ... sexual assault is not just about anger management ... it shouldnt be about just 'going to the pros' but about becoming a responsible man and good citizen. Your pro career (assuming you get one) will last maybe 2-3 years on average, so you better rely on your brain and smarts, and not you on your legs.
FOOLS!
Posted by: Judge | July 03, 2009 at 02:19 PM
We'll take him at USC. Seems like a good ball player.
Trojan Al
Posted by: Trojan Al | July 17, 2009 at 09:58 AM
The "Crespi Man" is relatively new. But what it means is that if you're ghetto, can run a 4.5 40 or throw a ball through a hoop, there's a seat and a scholarship for you at Crespi.
In the 70s and 80s, these punks would be running liners until they puked, or scrubbing urinals and mowing the football field with a push mower.
Today, they're coddled, because a good football program equals money for new buildings, and a little left over for prime rib across Alonzo Ave. at the Carmelite Priory.
There's no honor anymore...not at Crespi, not anywhere.
Posted by: 83 Celt | August 08, 2009 at 11:03 PM
CRESPI MEN , Class 84 chimed in for all alum to continue support of building a better unit this year IS underway in 09 and moving far away from the PUNKS that dragged us down on the field in big games and now in the media. Good news this season and some great character will prevail in Encino coming soon....
Posted by: TH | September 12, 2009 at 01:01 PM
im one of the women he battered and sexual assalted. im not too suprised that hes done this other women. wow he doesnt deserve to be at USC
Posted by: anon | November 20, 2009 at 12:19 PM