Texas wide receiver Jordan Whittington is the ultimate professional in the 2024 NFL Draft. The unsung hero and leader of a Longhorns program that advanced to this season's College Football Playoff, how others speak about you in rooms you're not physically present in speaks volumes about your legacy. Whittington's Texas teammates are telling NFL general managers to draft him.
Whittington recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his training with the Excel Sports Performance team, how former NFL wide receiver Ricky Proehl has helped bring him along, his favorite play to run in the Texas playbook, being a leader that changed the culture, and so much more.
There may not be a better future NFL teammate in the 2024 NFL Draft than Whittington.
JM: It's my understanding that you'll be participating in a Pro Day-like event on April 14 to work out for NFL teams. You've been preparing for the event by working out with the Excel Sports performance team, Curt Truhe and Sazi Guthrie. How have they made you more explosive throughout this process?
Jordan Whittington: Curt and Sazi have done an incredible job making me more explosive. The training is very different from what I’m used to. It’s very intentional. There’s a purpose to everything we’re doing. It’s essentially like preparing for the NFL Combine.
We’re focused on explosion and everything you’d want to showcase at Pro Day. They’ve spent so much attention to detail on my specific needs. Outside of this experience, I’ve only been in a team-like weight room setting at Texas. That training is based on the entire team as a whole. It wasn’t just about me.
Curt and Sazi are working with me specifically. It’s very intentional. They’ve been so attentive to my individual needs. It’s definitely been a different experience for me. I’m loving it. I’ve definitely made a lot of progress. I’m running really, really fast.
I can’t work for the workouts on April 14. I’m holding that event because I missed the NFL Combine. I was only able to run routes at Pro Day. I just want to give everybody the testing results for the 40, vertical jump, 3-cone, and things of that nature.
JM: We’re looking forward to it. When it comes to position drills, you've been working with former NFL wide receiver Ricky Proehl. What are some of the tips and tricks you've picked up along the way?
Jordan Whittington: I have great football IQ. I feel like I know the game inside and out. Ricky Proehl really helped me with the preparation process as I was getting ready to meet with the teams throughout this process. We’re getting on the board and talking through coverages.
Outside of that, he’s helped me tremendously on the field as well. He played for such a long time in the league. He’s been coaching me up and teaching me different things they look for in the league. I’m getting ready to acclimate. He’s been so great with everything. He’s making me a better football player.
JM: He was a pro’s pro. You were a five-year contributor at Texas. You helped change the culture as the program advanced to the College Football Playoff this season. The offense was so explosive. What was it like to take on a leadership role in a room that had Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, in addition to yourself and others? You were like the old head in the room (laughs).
Jordan Whittington: It was amazing, man (laughs). We take a lot of pride in saying we’re the group that helped turn Texas around. I was there for five years like you said. I saw the ups and downs of the program. Seeing it now, seeing how we all contributed to turning things around, it’s so rewarding.
The future is in good hands. I can’t wait to see where the Texas program is headed. Playing in that offense and in that receiver room, I was just thankful that my teammates saw me as a leader.
All of those Texas guys that went to the NFL Combine, as they interview with teams, they’re apparently saying I’d be the teammate they’d bring with them to the next level if they could choose one. That’s an incredible honor. It means the world to me.
Having the respect of my teammates was bigger than any individual accolade for me. The way someone talks about you when you’re not around, that’s really who you are and what your reputation is.
JM: That’s amazing to hear. You’re so well-regarded in that room. You also led by example. There was a play against TCU I believe it was, and you’ll remember this, but you hustle to force a fumble, and Worthy showed similar hustle to recover it. Did you feel like your efforts rubbed off on others?
Jordan Whittington: I think it did. I think our culture was contagious. That play perfectly captures what we’re talking about. There’s so many examples like that one when you go through the film. That’s a really good example.
I hope Texas keeps showing that play to future iterations of the team. This is what Texas Football is. We didn’t have to do that. It showcases the good things that happen when you have people on your team that care. We were willing to be selfless. We put the team first.
I’m so glad you brought up that play. I’m also so glad that X [Worthy] was there to recover it because I don’t think I would have recovered it (laughs).
JM: I love that (laughs). What was your favorite play to run in the playbook and why?
Jordan Whittington: That’s a great question. We had this regular run play in our playbook called “DUO.” We’d get in our bunch formation and when we’re running this play repeatedly, we’re basically telling you that we’re beating you both mentally and physically.
It was our statement play, if that makes sense. We absolutely loved that run play. We’d just run that play over and over again whenever we felt like the game was over. The opposing team couldn’t handle that play. That was my favorite play. That’s when I knew we had ‘em on the ropes.
JM: You guys were so dominant on duo. Have you met with any teams throughout this process, whether in person or virtually?
Jordan Whittington: I’ve probably met with 15 or more teams. I’ve met with a lot of teams. We’re talking about half the league. The Texans, Buccaneers, Steelers, Cowboys, it feels like they’ve been in good contact. I’ve pretty much met with 15 or more teams.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. We've appreciated your time. This conversation has highlighted why Jordan Whittington is among the most pro-ready WRs in the 2024 NFL Draft. What kind of impact are you going to make at the next level?
Jordan Whittington: I think I’m going to make a big, positive impact. I don’t know how things are going to go. The story hasn’t been written yet. I’m excited to watch my journey unfold. Whatever comes my way, I’m going to put my best foot forward the only way I know how.
I’m just excited. I feel super blessed and grateful to be in this position. I’m not taking it for granted. I’m going to go 10 times harder than ever.
