Orlando receiver's burst a lot like Harvin's
By Brian Linder, Staff writer send an email to
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August 3, 2012
The Whitfield File
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-9, 176
POSITION: Wide receiver
SCHOOL:
Orlando Jones
RECRUITING: According to Rivals.com, Whitfield has scholarship offers from Clemson, Florida State, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, West Virginia, South Carolina and Central Florida
ORLANDO -- Levonte Whitfield came up short against Sammy Watkins in the 200-meter dash at the high school state meet last spring.
That was when Whitfield was a sophomore and Watkins a senior.
Now, Jones is a rising senior at Orlando Jones High and talks of Watkins -- who he calls a close friend -- with a sense of knowing.
Whitfield watched as Watkins, a wide receiver from South Fort Myers High, went to Clemson last fall and torched the league for ACC freshman records in receptions (82), receiving yards (1,219) and touchdowns (12).
"I can do what he did ... only 10 times better," Whitfield said with a straight face Saturday.
Whitfield was at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista last weekend to take part in the Gridiron Kings 7-on-7 passing tournament.
He is ranked as the 75th-best player in Florida by recruiting website Rivals.com. But Whitfield said teams have given him high praise when talking about how he may be used at the next level.
"They have me at slot, punt return and kick return," the 5-foot-9, 176-pound Whitfield said. "Most of them say they want to use me the way (the University of Florida) used Percy Harvin."
And Chris Nee, who covers the state of Florida for Rivals.com, offered a Harvin-like assessment of Whitfield.
"Whitfield's greatest strength is his speed," Nee said. "He has an excellent burst and quickly accelerates to his top gear, allowing him to separate from defenders. His future in college is as a slotback, but he can be used on reverses and at times in the backfield to take advantage of his great quickness."
It appeared that Whitfield's skill set was destined for Coral Gables when he committed to the University of Miami in May 2011. But in March, Whitfield re-opened his recruiting. He said the Hurricanes are still on his list, along with Florida State, Florida, West Virginia, Clemson and Ohio State.
The deciding factor, he said, will likely be playing time.
"I want to go in and play right away," he said. "And it has to be a track school. I've got to run track."
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