Whitener’s leap of faith paid off
Chad Whitener had a role and a future at Cal, playing as a true freshman.
Yet Whitener, a Mansfield, Texas, product, didn’t like the fit and looked to get closer to home. And it led him to OSU, first as a walkon transfer, and finally as a three-year starter at linebacker for the Cowboys.
“I’m really happy about the time I’ve had here at Oklahoma State and finishing out the right way is how I want to go out,” said Whitener, who already holds his degree from OSU.
“There was a lot of uncertainty when I came here, because I was leaving a scholarship to walk on. I think having the mindset I did coming into it that I was going to earn everything, being ready to go, I think that panned out for me through my career here.”
This season, Whitener leads the Cowboys with 63 tackles. His 227 career tackles rank eighth among active Big 12 players.
Quotable
Cowboys senior safety Tre Flowers, reflecting on his career:
“I came into Oklahoma State a hungry, skinny freshman, and I’m leaving a little bit bigger and still hungry, still trying to make a way for my family and play football as long as I can.”
Chasing ‘grand’ history
OSU’s offense has racked up many big numbers and records this season.
Another within reach: the first Big 12 offense to produce a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher.
The Cowboys are threefourths of the way there, wideout Marcell Ateman needing just 58 receiving yards to complete the feat.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown for 4,115 yards, while James Washington has 1,317 receiving yards and Justice Hill 1,289 rushing yards. Ateman, at 942 yards, is averaging 85.6 receiving yards per game.
Such a foursome has only been accomplished nine times in FBS history and only twice at the Power Five level.