He stands 5-foot-11 and weighs in at 200 pounds. He can run and pass with remarkable ease. He bench-presses over 400 pounds - eighth highest on his team. Give him a cape and some spandex and he would be college football's Superman.
He is Clemson quarterback Woodrow Dantzler. The multitalented signal-caller for the Tigers has the unique ability to lead an offense with his head, arm and feet.
"Dantzler is one of the most dynamic players in college football this year," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "He has the ability to run and has a willingness to throw the ball."
In high school, Dantzler finished third in the state finals of the 400-meter dash. He has the speed and mobility to dance away from opposing defenders when he puts his head down and tucks the ball under his shoulder.
"We've built our offensive system around him," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said. "With him having great running skills, we feature him as a quarterback slash tailback. He gives us a lot of flexibility."
Always a threat to scamper out of the pocket or around the corner on a bootleg, Dantzler also has the capability of throwing the ball 70 yards downfield.
"When he does throw the ball, he goes vertical," Groh said. "With the spread formation, it puts a lot of pressure on the defense."
Dantzler is not only blessed with breathtaking physical skills but also intangible leadership qualities.
"He has taken over the leadership role for the offense and for the whole team real well," Bowden said. "He's always been a vocal leader, but as a senior, he has more people looking up to him. He realizes that burden falls on his shoulders and has become a more effective leader."
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Dantzler put the package together last year as he led the Tigers to an 8-0 record to open the season before disaster struck. On pace to become the first player in college football history to run for 1,000 yards and pass for 2,000 yards in a season, Dantzler severely sprained his ankle against North Carolina.
The injury, that later required surgery in the winter, forced Dantzler to spend most of the remaining season on the bench. The Tigers lost three of their last four games and Dantzler's dream of a Heisman Trophy vanished.
"Before he got injured last year, Dantzler was very deserving to be mentioned for the Heisman," Bowden said. "Statistically, he definitely merited it."
With his amazing talent, talk of the Heisman already has begun this season and he's become one of the leading contenders for college football's most prestigious honor.
Dantzler has started this season off quietly against Central Florida and Wofford. He threw for 154 yards and one touchdown, and ran for 46 yards and a score in Clemson's 21-13 win over Central Florida on Sept. 1. Dantzler passed for 207 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for 55 more in the Tigers' 38-14 win over Wofford on Sept. 8.
Dantzler also was quiet last season before facing Virginia. Jumping over Cavaliers in a single bound, Dantzler ran for 220 yards, an ACC single game record for a quarterback, and passed for 154 in Clemson's 31-10 defeat of Virginia.
But don't expect the "do-it-all" quarterback, who holds 20 Tiger football records, to enter this year's game overconfident.
"Last year was last year," Dantzler said. "That was in the past. You can't dwell in the past. Last year was the first time they saw me, but I bet they will be ready for me."
Virginia and the rest of college football will be ready for Dantzler this time around. That is if they could only find some kryptonite.
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