The 2024 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Texas wide receiver Jordan Whittington plans on taking full advantage. Whittington recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Whittington also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his abilities as a route runner, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Whittington better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Jordan Whittington: I was actually at practice. Coach Steve Sarkisian announced it at the end of practice. I was super surprised. I didn’t expect it. I thought coach Sarkisian was just delivering a regular speech (laughs). To be honest with you, I was ecstatic when he announced it in front of all my teammates.
JM: That’s an incredible story. What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Jordan Whittington: Playing in the Senior Bowl has always been a dream of mine. Getting that invite was a huge honor. Considering the position I play, I have a lot to prove in Mobile. I think I have more to show. We have two games left at Texas, and I have more to prove throughout the pre-draft process. Being around some of the best players in the country at the Senior Bowl is an opportunity I couldn’t pass on.
[Editor’s note: Interview was completed before Texas versus Washington]
JM: I love that you said you have two games left (laughs). What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Jordan Whittington: Two games is the goal (laughs). I’m looking to prove that I’m a complete receiver. That I have the speed and route running necessary to be considered an all-around playmaker. I’m also looking forward to the interview process as well. I want all 32 teams to get to know me as a person. I want my personality off the field to shine brightly as well.
JM: So if you were writing your own scouting report, how would you describe your skill set in your own words? Self-scout yourself.
Jordan Whittington: I would say I’m an extremely physical receiver. I have great hands and I’m a good route runner. I’m a selfless player with a high motor that’s always running hot. I’m a very strong and explosive player as well. I’m a leader in the locker room. Physicality is at the forefront of my skill set.
JM: Speaking of routes, does Jordan Whittington have a favorite route to run?
Jordan Whittington: That’s a tough question. I love crafty routes. I like every route to be honest with you. I wouldn’t say that I have a personal favorite.
JM: Talk to me about playing in this Texas offense. It’s so explosive with Quinn Ewers at quarterback, and playing alongside Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy at receiver.
Jordan Whittington: I’ve learned a lot from the experience. Even though those guys are younger than me, I’ve learned a lot from being around them and their skill sets. We all have different skill sets. I’ve been a leader in the locker room for those guys.
We’re at a point now where we’ve changed Texas for the better. We’ve improved the culture and restored the program to what it’s supposed to be. I take a lot of pride in that. Everything that goes with making a culture change, all of the leaders on this team have had a positive impact.
Other than that, I’ve been around some guys that are truly my friends. We’re more than just teammates. When you combine talented players with true friendship and trust, that’s what builds a good team.
JM: We love hearing that. If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL receiver, who would you choose and why?
Jordan Whittington: I would say, Deebo Samuel. He gets the ball in his hands and makes something special happen after the catch. I have some of that ability as well. It’s really fun to see. That’s what I’m capable of doing at the receiver position.
JM: That’s a fun comparison. What can you achieve at the Senior Bowl that you can’t at other pre-draft events?
Jordan Whittington: I’ve obviously never been to the Senior Bowl, but I’ve always paid attention from afar. I find it to be a very intimate event. You’re up close and personal with the coaching staff, with NFL scouts, and so on. The interview process feels more intimate as well. There are more opportunities for your personality to shine through.
Of course, the one-versus-one practice reps are big. There are a lot of those opportunities on the table as well. Winning your reps is key. The Senior Bowl is a more physical event. We don’t actually play football at other pre-draft events like we do at the Senior Bowl. It’s football for a whole week.
I'll be on the field for an entire week with my helmet on working the physical side of it. That’s what the Senior Bowl is all about.
JM: You hit the nail on the head. What’s on Jordan Whittington’s pre-game playlist?
Jordan Whittington: Teddy Pendergrass. All the time, it’s Teddy Pendergrass (laughs). I’m an old-school R&B guy. “Love T.K.O” is my favorite song by Teddy Pendergrass. There’s another song called “Nobody’s Supposed to be Here” by Deborah Cox that’s an all-time favorite of mine as well.
JM: Wow, I love that. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Jordan Whittington?
Jordan Whittington: Health always comes first and foremost. To enter, and to exit the Senior Bowl with a clean bill of health. A successful Senior Bowl means I did what I’m capable of doing. That’s the honest truth. I hope to see a lot of opportunities for myself in Mobile. A lot of opportunities for me to display my abilities.
That would encompass what a successful Senior Bowl looks like for me. Once I handle the little things, everything else will take care of itself.
