Jordan Whittington is... playing a key role
in the Texas offense
The Red River Shootout is an important line of demarcation for Whittington and his 2022 campaign. In 2021, a collarbone injury suffered against the Sooners kept him out of action until the final game of the season. A similar scenario unfolded in 2020, when
after 10 catches for 65 yards in the Cotton Bowl, the then-redshirt freshman had to leave the game, not returning to the field for a month and a half.
Whittington was at the top of the depth chart last year at the slot receiver position. However, Texas ran 12 personnel often in 2021, and Whittington would leave the field....
Texas still runs a significant amount of 12 personnel, but these days Whittington stays on the field regardless. He has
158 snaps as the slot receiver, and
107 as a split out wide receiver.
The responsibilities and skill sets emphasized on a down-by-down basis differ when moving from the slot. Corners are in close proximity. There aren’t yards of space like there are in the middle of the field. It’s an adjustment that wide receivers coach Brennan Marion had to work on with Whittington during the offseason, even at the expense of some security.
“Coach Marion did a good job of coming in and making me get uncomfortable because I’ve been comfortable in the slot,” Whittington said Monday. “Putting me outside and just teaching me stuff like that, then telling me ‘you’re going to have to play outside at some point.’ The occasion came, and when I had to do it, I was already set. It wasn’t that hard to adjust.”
This year, he has
21 catches out of 27 targets for 257 yards. He’s been a reliable option, with PFF College ascribing zero drops to his ledger. The touchdowns haven’t come quite yet, but he has helped create some as a force blocking for others.
His blocking has been strong elsewhere, too. Whether in the screen game or in the rushing offense, Texas ball-carriers typically have space if they’re following No. 4.
“I just try to keep a good attitude,” Whittington said. ”Once I learned happiness is a choice, I always choose that route.”
[More at IT]Click to expand...