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By MATTHEW BROWN
Journal Sports Writer
It would probably be the only occasion where Bryan Way would be seen wearing an Auburn Tigers cap on the Warner Robins High campus.
In support of perhaps the top college recruit in his time as Demons head football coach, Way wore the blue hat as lineman Jeffrey Whitaker announced his commitment to Auburn University.
Several of Whitaker’s fellow students, as well as close family members, packed in the Warner Robins High media center to hear him make the call.
Auburn was one of four schools Whitaker visited since his senior high school football season ended. He was also considering North Carolina, Georgia and Miami, the school he visited this past weekend.
“I didn’t think there would be quite that many people here,” said Way in response to the numbers in the room. “I think it’s a testament to the love and respect you have for Jeffrey, and I know he appreciates you being here.
“There’s as much blue and orange as has ever been in this media center.”
“I just felt comfortable,” said Whitaker about what separated Auburn from his other choices. “There was no question. I couldn’t turn away from it. It just felt like home.”
He hopes to stay in the same spot, defensive tackle, which made him such a highly sought prospect. Whitaker had 11 tackles for a loss in 2009.
“Hopefully I can move some guys out of the way and get to the quarterback,” said Whitaker, who played in the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio, Texas, in early January.
“That was my first college game,” he said. “The experience was great. I thought I was big, but then I see 6-6, 340 running at me, that’s scary. It was a humbling experience, because everybody was great.”
As for his experience as a major recruit, “aggravating” was the first word Whitaker used to describe the process. That comes from the constant telephone calls and other contacts.
“When I was little, I said I wanted to be a rock star or celebrity or something like that,” he said. “After this, I just want to be a simple person.
“It wasn’t tough. I think whatever you make out of pressure, that’s what pressure is. There wasn’t any pressure.”
Way said Whitaker did things the right way in letting the other colleges know right away he was not interested in signing.
“He’s made it easy on me,” the coach said. “He’s a straight shooter, very respectful. He listened to what everybody had to say. I think the schools appreciated that.
“No matter what his decision was, it was going to be a great decision. He’s going to get an outstanding education, great coaching, play against great competition. It was a no-lose situation.”
Verbal commitments are non-binding.
Whitaker and all other college football recruits make things official today (Wednesday) in what is known as National Signing Day, the first day these players can sign college scholarship papers.
Once the paperwork is out of the way, Whitaker knows there’s a lot of running, training and sweating up ahead to prepare of summer camps.
“It’s a dream, but I’m not done,” he said.
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