San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Injure-prone Whittington ‘taking care of body’
AUSTIN — Every Saturday, Jordan Whittington deviates from his diet. Just for a bit, a single sitting, even.
These days, Whittington’s a hardline health and fitness devotee for about 167 hours a week. But for one blissful hour — if that — every weekend, the Texas wideout snags a spoon, clutches a tub of ice cream and absolutely goes to town.
“Diet, that’s another thing I’ve been working on this year,” Whittington said. “Just eating healthy all the time, except for Saturday. I eat a pint of ice cream every Saturday. And just stay happy, make sure your mental health is good. You always got the decision to be happy or not, so always choose the happy route.”
Sometimes the happy route leads directly to a frozen pint and spiking serotonin. For Whittington, a fourth-year Longhorn who looks like he’s leading a war on body fat, the sugary confection is both reward and reminder.
“I changed pretty much my whole routine to where I 100 percent commit myself to staying healthy and taking care of my body,” said Whittington, who’s missed 21 of 35 games with various injuries since joining the team in 2019. “And then just being a leader, having to be out there — I feel like I have to be, so that makes me do whatever I have to do to stay healthy, stay on the field and be that example for the younger guys.”
This was all so much easier back when Whittington was shredding opposing high schools as a do-everything star at Cuero.
He earned all-state honors as a receiver, defensive back, kick returner and all-purpose player, graduating in 2019 as a five-star recruit and the second-ranked “athlete” prospect in the nation, per 247Sports composite rankings.
Whittington posted over 3,000 receiving yards, 5,400 all-purpose yards and 60 total touchdowns over his final three seasons at Cuero. He was ridiculous enough to earn both offensive and defensive MVP honors in the Gobblers’ 2018 victory in the state championship game after totaling 377 yards from scrimmage (343 rushing), six touchdowns and 11 tackles.
At Texas, there have been flashes of the player Whittington once was and of the one he might become. But a string of bad luck and injuries has led the fourth-year slot receiver to embrace reality and shed that seductive teenage sense of invulnerability at the ripe old age of 21.
The first thing Whittington would go back and tell his 18-yearold self ?
“Take care of your body,” Whittington said. “You’re coming out of high school, you’re young, you feel great. And when you’re young, you can go practice, go home, go to sleep, come back and you’ll feel the same. When you get older and you go through what I’ve went through you have to make a conscious effort to take care of your body. So, that’s the first thing I would say, take care of your body even when it feels good.”
Whittington now rises two hours earlier than he used to.
He’s a staple in the cold and hot tubs, rapidly hopping from one to the next in what’s called contrast bath therapy. He’s also become an adherent of hydrotherapy, which allows athletes to train and rehab against the water’s natural resistance without putting too much strain on weight-bearing joints
It’s all helping. Whittington has looked vigorous during spring practice. No hinderances, no tragic injury updates from coach Steve Sarkisian. Healthy.
A healthy Whittington is promising news for a team that desperately needs another reliable receiver to draw attention away from sophomore superstar Xavier Worthy. Because when he’s been available, Whittington has been a dependable slot receiver who puts a legitimate strain on opposing defense.
In 14 career games, Whittington has recorded 49 receptions for 600 yards (12.2 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. He’s also run four times for 58 yards and a score.
Through five games last year it was Whittington, not Worthy, who led Texas in targets (32), receptions (21) and receiving yards (315). But Whittington broke his clavicle in the Longhorns’ sixth contest, a 55-48 loss to Oklahoma, and didn’t return until the regular-season finale.
That was the latest blow in a career that began with a seasonending groin injury in his collegiate debut. In 2020, a torn meniscus and hip injury limited Whittington to five games.
He’s not exactly grateful for all the hardship. But the setbacks have at least offered Whittington a new perspective, which comes in especially handy when others, like snake-bitten sophomore receiver Troy Omeire, come seeking guidance and reassurance.
“I feel like I’m a living testimony and example for him because I’ve actually been through it,” Whittington said. “So, I’m glad. Not glad that it happened to me, but now that it has, I’m glad that he has somebody to look to. I always tell him, ‘There’s a bright side at the end of this.’ ”