Whittington ready to roll after setbacks
Often-injured five-star receiver impresses Sarkisian with offensive playbook mastery
AUSTIN — No one has sponged up Texas’ new offensive playbook faster than Jordan Whittington.
After hearing first-year coach Steve Sarkisian rave about the third-year receiver earlier this month, it’s evident Whittington is eyeing a major role in 2021.
“I really like Jordan. From the day I’ve got here, he’s done everything I’ve asked,” Sarkisian said on April 10 after practice. “He’s part of our leadership committee. And I think he’s really learned our system well, is probably the furthest along of understanding, can play multiple positions at the wide receiver position right now. He’s been a playmaker so far throughout the beginning of the spring ball, and he’s also been a real asset on special teams.”
Whittington has endured a luckless, injury-laden start to his college career.
An offensive master of all trades out of Cuero, he lasted just one half as a true freshman, recording a pair of catches in the 2019 season opener against Louisiana Tech before suffering a torn adductor muscle. That blighted debut led to a pair of surgeries and a lost year.
Last season it was a meniscus tear, again in the season opener, that hobbled Whittington. Another surgery in early September cost him more games. A soft-tissue abdominal injury further hampered his return a few weeks later.
But when Whittington has been available — he’s appeared in six of a possible 23 games — Texas has taken full advantage. In five games last year, he tallied 21 receptions for 206 yards and rushed three times for 50 yards with one touchdown.
Whittington snagged a careerhigh 10 receptions for 65 yards in the Longhorns’ four-overtime loss to Oklahoma last October, the starkest example yet of his ability to grow into a high-volume receiver who’s also comfortable operating trick plays out of the backfield.
That’s why even after a couple of snakebitten seasons, Whittington remains confident. In himself. In teammates and coaches, both familiar and new. In his body staying put together.
“I feel like I’ve always been able to trust (my body), I’ve just been put in unfortunate situations,” Whittington said Tuesday following practice. “I’ve never played like, ‘Ah, man, I might get hurt this down.’ Because ultimately that’s how you get hurt. So I just let it loose every time. And by the grace of God, I’ll just stay healthy. And I feel way better.”
Said Sarkisian: “We’re aware of some of the injuries he’s had in the past, but when I first got here it was a clean slate. What you are now is who you are in our eyes, and Jordan has been off to a great start for us.”
Whittington can play anywhere, though he operated mostly out of the slot last season. But the former tailback is also an ideal gadget-play target who has the chops to work both between the hashes and outside.
“I see it as being explosive,” Whittington said of his role in Sarkisian’s offense. “He’s an explosive play-caller, he needs explosive players. I think just getting put in the right position, I mean, he’ll put you in one-on-one, I just gotta win those. If I do that, then it’ll be great.”
It’s easy to forget now with the Bijan Robinson for Heisman campaign already underway following his dazzling debut as a true freshman running back, but Whittington was this program’s shiny new five-star recruit not so long ago.
He was the No. 2 athlete in the nation and No. 6 recruit in Texas during the 2019 recruiting cycle, per the 247Sports composite, an All-American with offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma and pretty much every other name-brand FBS program.
And Whittington is still that doit-all weapon who posted more than 5,400 all-purpose yards and 60 touchdowns over his final three campaigns at Cuero. The only thing stopping him at Texas so far has been his own body.
But Whittington doesn’t have to worry about rehab or recovery this offseason. And barring any future injury misfortune, he’ll be one of Sarkisian’s most pivotal offensive playmakers.
“With Jordan, now that he’s back healthy, it’s been explosive,” Robinson gushed Tuesday. “Jordan always had that skillset. Seeing him bounce back from all the injuries, the bad things that happened in his life, it’s a blessing to see him come back and really take advantage of the time he’s had here in the spring.
“We talk all the time, you know, just stay patient. And now that he’s back healthy, he’s been looking at his best. I can’t wait to see what he can do.”