2002: Played in six games...held out to nurse a neck injury…was listed on the two-deep throughout the season.
2001: Played the last four games of the season after suffering a severe left ankle sprain during two-a-days.
Coaches’ Comments Upon Signing: Big man with good feet and intelligence both on and off the field.
High School: Played for Mike Hayde at Ft. Meade High school...named first-team offense all-Polk, all-Lakeland Ledger and Tampa Tribune...earned Larry Bluestein's Florida Kids.net and Florida Prep Football's top-100 prospects...did not allow a sack in 34 games, through his junior and senior seasons...team won back-to-back district championships and advanced to the Class A finals in both 1999 and 2000...after leading his team=s offensive line with 130 pancake blocks, he was named the Miners= Player of the Week four times.
Also Considered: Troy State, East Carolina and Arizona State.
Personal: Social Science major...son of Bill and Suzie Whitener...born December 21, 1982 in Winter Haven.