Interest picking up on Columbus receiver Whittaker

Kenny Whittaker is a fighter. He's the kind of football player you want on your side in a fierce battle. He is the type of player who will never give up. While he brings all these accolades to the field, getting colleges to offer this gifted athlete has been tough.

Whittaker isn't alone. In this region, which will turn out some 200 Division 1A signees next February, getting a scholarship to get an education and to play football is getting tougher, and athletes such as Whittaker are having to do more self promotion than ever before.

While most in Miami-Dade County had little idea that Whittaker existed until the spring when the receiver/all-around football player arrived at Columbus, Broward County and 2A schools across the state knew all about this 5-10, 175-pounder, who caught more than 900 yards for Chaminade-Madonna in Hollywood. He was chosen first-team All-State.

Even when coach Mark Guandolo left for Cypress Bay, Whittaker stayed at a school that had been fair to him. Then, after Al Lang departed for Douglas after one season in, stability had gone out the window for someone who needed to stand out.

''I have been taught one way to do things,'' Whittaker said. ``If you work hard and apply what you learn in practices, you will succeed.''

That philosophy has worked for Whittaker, who had been noticed plenty during his junior season, where his team lost in the first round of the playoffs.

IMPRESSING RECRUITERS

Perhaps the game that stood out most in many recruiters and college coaches' mind was the game in which Whittaker and Chaminade lost 41-0 to eventual 2B state champions, Pahokee. It was in that game when everyone began to see this tremendous athlete for what he was.

''Kenny is the kind of player who has been proving himself all of his young life,'' said Roy Jossfolk of EliteScoutingServices.com. ``I have had the pleasure of watching him for two years, and there's no way people are going to say that he isn't a D1 player. He catches too many balls and does so many things on the field.''

At a time when colleges have to examine a recruit from top to bottom, Whittaker is often passed over for a number of reasons. One of the main things, at the major college level, is they want a larger, more durable-looking kind of athlete. Whittaker obviously doesn't fit the 6-3, 200-pounds that colleges thirst for. But neither did Miami Dolphin Wes Welker.

The opportunity to play at Columbus for his senior year has also increased interest as Boston College and Wake Forest have inquired. If Whittaker is to come away with that coveted scholarship at the end of the upcoming football season, he will have a lot of proving to do.

Consider that 2A football in the state of Florida, while it is impressive, is not Class 6A. At Columbus, Whittaker will be tested every week, and that could turn out to be the real difference maker.

''My time so far at Columbus has been tremendous,'' Whittaker said. ``You have one of the best defensive linemen [Antwan Lowery] in the nation on the team with the best junior running back anywhere, Jakhari Gore. You have to be kidding, this is going to be great.''

When many people tend to look down at the smaller schools, they forget that Pahokee, Archbishop Carroll, American Heritage and Gulliver Prep are all small schools, but understandably, many are waiting for Whittaker to get it done against the ``big boys.''

''From what we've seen in the spring and into the summer, Kenny is going to lift this team up in a way that most never predicted,'' Gore said. ``He just has a way of making things happen. He is going to surprise a lot of people who have never watched him before.''

GETTING EXPOSURE

If Whittaker is facing a stereotype, North Miami quarterback Junior Delpe is battling the fact that the publicity coming out of Pioneerland was non-existent until recently.

When 24-year-old Horrane Allison took over for Leonard Graham, who stepped down, things started to happen for the team formerly knows as the Swamp Dogs. The Pioneers were in the final four of the Miami Dolphins 7-on-7 event, giving Delpe more exposure.

Last year, while Delpe played quarterback, he also had versatile Junior Mertile back there taking snaps as well. This year, the team is all his.

''Junior has plenty of arm strength,'' Allison said. ``He has already shown that he will do what it takes to improve.''

There are other south Florida athletes who have also found that attending extra camps and sending out several DVDs.

Cardinal Gibbons quarterback Chris Schirippa has been open the radar screen for two years, and while he has had a productive spring, the offers are coming slow. While several players are interested in certain schools, getting that offer is what this next few months will be all about.

American Heritage Delray receiver Joe Morris and Boyd Anderson receiver Travis Reynolds are also turning plenty of heads, but getting that offer, which will turn into a scholarship is what this is all about.

''Chris has been picking up plenty of interest,'' said Cardinal Gibbons' offensive coordinator Matt Dubuc, who as a former Texas Tech running back, knows all about attracting schools year round. ``Going to different camps and other events has only enhanced what he is all about. He has the arm, speed and size. Now he just needs a break to show what he can do.''

A few weeks back, Edison receiver Larry McCoy was missing out on many of the offers that he deserved. A few camps and some major exposure and this 6-0, 175-pounder is suddenly a hot prospect.

With schools such as FAU and FIU now in the D1 mix, many of the athletes who used to head out of state to try and earn a scholarship during the summer months are being pursued by Mario Cristobal and Howard Schnellenberger and their staffs, who are working hard to keep the athletes home.

IT'S THE OTHER PACE

In the 17 years he has been head coach at Pace High, Mickey Lindsey has accomplished some impressive things and has developed a number of quality football players.

As the Patriots look toward the 2008 season, the objective is the same. Improve on last year's quality 13-1 record and finish the business started when they lost a heart-breaer at Nease.

Leading the way to accomplish that feat is senior quarterback Aaron Munoz. Regarded as one of the top prospects in the state, the 6-0, 190-pounder is coming off quite a junior season in which he completed 127 passes from 1,961 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also ran for 346 yards and scored three times. It's no wonder programs such as Southern Mississippi, Auburn, Wake Forest and the University of South Florida have been keeping a close eye on his overall progress.

In addition to Munoz, the Class of 2009 looks impressive with wide receiver Tyler Bousson (6-0, 185), linebackers James McGreevy (5-11, 205) and Ben Giles (6-2, 230), tight end Ryan Hanks (6-5, 230), running back Travis Scott (5-9, 165), fullback Vinny Orlando (5-9, 205) and offensive lineman Jimmy Colley (6-3, 250).

The Class of 2010 is also quality with fullback Tyler Hunt (5-9, 195) attracting plenty of attention.

GETTING DOWN AND DIRTY

Don't forget that this weekend, starting today, I will have daily blogs from Stetson University for the annual Down & Dirty Lineman Camp. The three-session, nine-day camp features nearly 1,000 linemen from Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

Expected to be on hand for the first session is Hallandale. The Chargers, who will be a force in the district with defending 4A state champion Booker T. Washington, are expected to send several of their impressive front to Deland. We will also give you any other top local, regional and statewide performers attending as well.

On Saturday and Sunday, the University of Central Florida will host a 40-team 7-on-7 event as a national qualifier. Last season, Pahokee won this tournament and went on to capture the national title. The Blue Devils and Glades Central are expected to on hand with 1B state champion Jupiter Christian as well as record-setting quarterback Aaron Murray and his Tampa Plant squad.

Larry Blustein is co-host of the Miami Dolphins Gridiron Show every Thursday evening from 7-8 on WQAM (560 AM). Have a comment? E-mail at lblustein@MiamiHerald.com.