Here’s a quick hit before we take a week-long holiday break. There is word out of Alabama that two-sport talent Justin Woodall will play baseball this spring for the Crimson Tide. Woodall, who started six games at safety in his sophomore season for the Alabama football team this fall, will start hitting after soon after the football season wraps up in the Dec. 30 PetroSun Independence Bowl against Colorado.

Alabama coach Jim Wells has reportedly spoken with Woodall about pitching and playing center field, and he has the potential to be a true impact player on the diamond. Here’s a look back at our predraft scouting report for Woodall in 2006:

Woodall’s performance this spring was a pleasant surprise. A talented football player who has committed to play safety at Alabama, he has plus tools across the board. But he’s raw and has made it known to scouts that he has little desire to play baseball professionally at this point, with plans to join a close friend in Tuscaloosa who also plays football. He’s rangy and powerful in the outfield with above-average arm strength that produces 90-94 mph heat on the mound–from the left side. He’ll flash a hard, late-biting slider as well. Woodall has little feel for pitching and his approach at the plate is equally unrefined. He’s aggressive in all counts and looks to pull often. He makes hard contact with plus raw power. His quick, strong hands and wrists allow him to unleash the bat head through the zone with tremendous speed. He’s an above-average runner, though he doesn’t get out of the box quickly. Even as scouts expressed interest in Woodall this spring, he didn’t show enough interest in baseball to make him a premium pick. He opted out of one predraft workout because it interfered with a trip to Cancun.

Enjoy the holidays, and please join me for the first college baseball chat of 2008 on Jan. 4–live from the American Baseball Coaches Association convention in Philadelphia!