Whaley to get some primetime exposure
Devwah Whaley will be keen to pick up where he left off when he and his Arkansas Razorbacks team-mates host unbeaten Alabama in today’s Southeastern West Conference matchup to be televised live on ESPN.
The Bermudian-born running back underlined his potential by putting up huge numbers in the Razorbacks’ 52-10 rout of Alcorn State a week ago.
He was virtually unstoppable as he rushed for 135 yards on nine carries, including a 75-yard touchdown, his first touchdown in college football and longest rush thus far.
“All glory goes to the man above,” Whaley tweeted after his breakout performance.
In five appearances for the season so far, Whaley has rushed for an overall 220 yards on 33 carries.
As Arkansas’s second-highest new recruit since the ESPN 300 listings began a decade ago, expectations are high for the 6ft, 209lb running back, who is heavily tipped by ESPN’s five SEC reporters to win the conference’s Freshman of the Year Award this season.
Arkansas, meanwhile, are still searching for their first victory in conference play for the season after suffering a 45-24 defeat in their only other conference matchup against leaders Texas A&M on September 25.
They are ranked seventh in the Southeastern West Conference, and boast an overall 4-1 record for the season, which they will be looking to improve when the Crimson Tide roll into town for today’s televised match, which will air at 8pm Bermuda time.
Whaley committed to play for Arkansas over several other colleges, including Texas and Georgia.
In his senior year at Central High School in Texas, he rushed for 1,701 yards and 23 touchdowns.
He also rushed for 47 yards on 12 carries in the Under Armour All-American Game that was played, while his future team were beating Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl.
The son of former local middle distance runner Devoe Whaley groomed his athletic skills in Bermuda playing various sports while attending Dalton E. Tucker Primary and Sandys Middle School, before moving to the United States.
The 18-year-old hopes to one day showcase his talents in the NFL.
“The ultimate goal is to get to the NFL,” he said. “I have been playing football since I was little. I just fell in love with it and have been playing ever since.”