Temple feels like home to Whittingham

Temple feels like home to Whittingham

Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer

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Several college football programs thought about taking a shot at 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive tackle Jeffrey Whittingham from Atlantic City High School.

They appear to be out of luck. Whittingham verbally accepted a scholarship offer from Temple head coach Al Golden last month.

Whittingham pulled the trigger on the Owls, passing up a possible chance to play in the Big East.

"Cincinnati was probably going to offer if I came to visit," Whittingham said in an interview with OwlScoop.com. "I just felt at home at Temple. Philadelphia is close to home for me. It's a comfortable feeling being there."

Maryland and Syracuse also showed some interest in Whittingham, one of seven Temple verbals so far from the 2009 class. He became the first defensive tackle to commit to the Owls and was later joined at that position by the 6-4, 325-pound Levi Brown out of Bethlehem's Liberty High School.

While he is accustomed to playing defensive tackle, Whittingham has played offensive tackle in high school. Chances are he'll stay on defense in college.

Now that Whittingham has committed to accepting Golden's scholarship offer, he's looking ahead to his senior season at Atlantic City and, beyond that, working on what will ultimately help him see the field as a freshman with the Owls.

"I'm pretty strong right now, but I still think I need to get stronger before college," Whittingham said. "I need to work on everything - my speed, explosion and my footwork."

Whittingham has visited Temple's campus twice. The first time was June 14 during Temple's Junior Day. Almost two weeks later, he came to North Broad Street again and committed shortly thereafter.

Whittingham said Golden was able to strike up a solid relationship with him and his family.

"He's a nice, laid-back coach," Whittingham said. "He knows the game really well. He was real down-to-earth and honest with me and my parents."

Golden's demeanor aside, Whittingham also wanted to go to a program where he could win and be successful.

"Look how he rebuilt the program," Whittingham said. "He's done a great job. He's building a great program, and I want to be a part of it."

Whittingham also went head-to-head in the South Jersey Group IV state playoffs last season with fellow 2009 Temple verbal commitment Evan Regas when the Vikings played Regas' favored Toms River North squad. Atlantic City kept it close but fell, 9-7.

"I don't even know if he will remember me," Whittingham said. "We came in as the underdogs, and we played really well against them."

There's always this season. And if Whittingham and Regas don't meet on the football field this fall, they stand to be reunited on the gridiron shortly thereafter.