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Name: Jordan Whittley
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 348 lbs.
High school: Richmond (CA) Castlemont
Position: Nose tackle
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #93
Last year: Whittley opted out of playing the 2020 season at Oregon State.
TTB Rating: N/A
Whittley was a huge addition to Michigan's team this off-season. Listed at 358 pounds for Oregon State (now at 348), he was an immovable object at nose tackle the last time he played in 2019. The high school running back-turned-defensive tackle has bounced around to a few places, and apparently, whatever was going on in Beaverton did not fit his tastes. He entered the transfer portal and ended up with the Wolverines. California to Oregon to Michigan is a path rarely traveled, but it appears to be working okay this time.
What will Whittley bring to the table for the Wolverines in 2021? So far practice buzz has been non-existent about Whittley, while there have been some rumblings about fellow nose tackle Mazi Smith. Michigan needs at least one of those guys to step up this season for a new 3-4 defense that needs to be more stout in the interior. I have a hard time believing in any kind of consistency for either one, but I do believe that part of the reason for the Mazi Smith buzz is that the coaching staff brought in competition in the form of Whittley. So regardless if which one wins the most snaps, the presence of the other might light a fire under someone's butt.
My guess is that Smith will get the first shot to play nose tackle, but it's nice to have Whittley on board as a rotation piece and potential starter.
Prediction: Backup nose tackle
I hope he is able to contribute but the lack of buzz isn't a great sign. Hopefully he can work his way into the rotation in the weeks ahead.
ReplyDeleteYou probably meant Corvallis (where OSU is) instead of Beaverton (where Nike is) though some would say Nike runs the show, not just in Eugene.
Please be ready to play significant snaps. I don't expect domination, just a guy who can rest the starters, and not get trucked as we have seen in recent years
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