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Tyler "Tank" Whaley (official thread)

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OSU

Pro Day Quotes
Tyler Whaley
On Pro Day
"It was a great experience. I was happy I was able to showcase my abilities. I feel like I helped myself by setting personal records. I did my best today."
On leaving Ohio State
"It was a dream come true to accomplish what I did at Ohio State and it's a dream come true to have a chance to play in the National Football League."
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Whaley is the subject of a book
Mar 13, 2008
By BILLY BRUCE
The Lawrence Herald
COLUMBUS -- Tyler Whaley's life is about to take book form.

Ken Gordon, an 18-year veteran sportswriter who has covered the Ohio State Buckeyes football team the past five years, knows a good story when he sees one. And this story is going to demand a lot more space than a newspaper article allows.

Working with Cardinal Publishing Group of Indianapolis, Gordon is about to fulfill a lifelong dream by authoring his first book.

"They deserve some credit for taking a chance on a first-time author," he said of the publishing company. "They believe in the power of the story."

Ironically, Gordon picked another dreamer as his subject.

"It first occurred to me when I went to Ironton in December for a story I wrote about Tyler for (The Columbus Dispatch)," Gordon said of possibly penning a biography of Whaley, who was a senior fullback for the Buckeyes at the time. "I thought to myself, 'Man, this guy could be a book.'"
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Whaley is the subject of a book - Huntington, WV -- The Herald-Dispatch

Whaley does well at Pro Day
Mar 13, 2008
By BILLY BRUCE
The Lawrence Herald

COLUMBUS -- Here we go again.

Five years ago, Ironton's Tyler Whaley dismissed the naysayers and followed his heart to Ohio State. There he tediously worked his way into a major contributing roll as a senior fullback for the Buckeyes last season.

Last Friday, OSU's 2007 Most Inspirational Player started writing a new chapter in his well-documented career as an overachiever. But, this time, Whaley is surrounded by very few non-believers.

He's hoping this story has the same ending as the last one.

Following a tryout before NFL scouts and coaches at the OSU Pro Day in Columbus, Whaley walked off the field satisfied with his performance.

"I did the best I could have done," he said, noting that once he got his nerves under control he executed with a clearer focus. "I treated it like a game."

His day began on the bench press, where the 250-pounder hoisted 225 pounds a whopping 34 times, just three fewer times than Michigan All-American tackle Jake Long and Ohio State All-American defensive end Vernon Gholston's 37 reps at the national combine earlier in February. Gholston and Long are projected to be first-round selections in the NFL draft.

"I probably could have done more," Whaley said. "But, I was so amped up and a little nervous. Once I got that first one out of the way, I just kept rolling and wasn't so nervous anymore."

He had pushed 225 pounds 37 times in the weeks prior to the Pro Day, but said he was concentrating so hard on following posture rules, with everyone staring at him, that he ran out of gas toward the end.

"I almost got to 35, but didn't quite make it," he said.

Whaley said he also had a 31-and-a-half inch vertical leap and ran the 40-yard-dash in the 4.7 to 4.8 range, excellent numbers for a man of his size.

"I did well on the agility drills and caught all of the balls in the positional drills," he said. "It felt good. I walked off the field with no regrets."
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Whaley does well at Pro Day - Huntington, WV -- The Herald-Dispatch
 
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Whaley awaits next career opportunity
By Jim Walker/Tribune Sports Editor
Saturday, March 15, 2008

COLUMBUS ? Tyler Whaley will walk across the Schottenstein Center stage about 2 p.m. this afternoon and leave with a degree in health science. He?ll then begin looking for the door of opportunity.

In his case, Whaley can choose from door No. 1, door No. 2, or door No. 3.

The now former Ohio State Buckeyes center turned fullback may have several options waiting, although a couple of them remain uncertain.

Welcome to real life.

Whaley can join the private sector and use his degree right away, but that may hinge on how the NFL scouts viewed his Pro Day at Ohio Stadium on March 7.

?I feel I did as well as I could and now it?s a waiting game,? said Whaley. ?A lot of people said I was a surprise as an unknown. If it happens, it happens. If not, I?ve been going on job interviews. I might even look into arena (football).

?Hopefully I?ll hear something in a week or two.?

During the Pro Day, Whaley had a vertical leap of 31 and one-half inches. He said ?that?s good for me. I?m not much of a vertical jumper.?

His 40-yard dash speed was 4.72 seconds and his standing broad jump was 8-feet, 6-inches.

?I ran the fastest 40-yard time of my life. (Ohio State defensive back) Donald Washington was sitting near the finish line and he said the scouts clocked me in the low 4.7 time,? said Whaley.
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The Ironton Tribune > Sports > Whaley awaits next career opportunity
 
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Tank seems like a great kid. Hopefully football is in his future because that seems like the route he'd like to start on. If not, he can take that Degree and run.

Best of luck, Big Kid, on whatever's behind the doors that open up for you in life.

Peace.
 
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brodybuck21;1114951; said:
id love to see tank get a shot as a fb/special teams demon. i like the cory schlesinger comparison.
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Hopefully, someday we'll be comparing him to Lorenzo Neal. Better yet, in about 15 years lets hope everyone is comparing NFL FB prospects to Tyler "Tank" Whaley. :)
 
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Herald-Dispatch
Bengals offer contract to Whaley

Apr 29, 2008 @ 01:59 AM

By BILLY BRUCE

For The Herald-Dispatch

IRONTON -- Tyler Whaley's dream continues.
Whaley, an Ohio State walk-on fullback and former Ironton High School football standout, took another step in his journey to make his fantasy a reality.
During the NFL Draft the Cincinnati Bengals called and said they wanted to sign him.
"When the third round started, the Cincinnati Bengals' running backs coach called me and said they were looking at a few fullbacks," Whaley said. "When the draft was over, my agent called and said I had a contract offer from the Bengals. I said, 'take it'."
Whaley, whose rise from a non-scholarship lineman to a regular contributor at fullback for the Buckeyes last season, is the topic of an upcoming book by Columbus Dispatch newspaper sports writer Ken Gordon.
He begins workouts Thursday with the Bengals.

Cont...
 
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Starting over again

Former Ohio State fullback Tyler Whaley is one of two fullbacks the Bengals signed as undrafted free agents, which makes him one of only three fullbacks on the roster. The others are veteran Jeremi Johnson and Bradley Glatthaar, an undrafted free agent from Cincinnati.

"I have a shot. That's all I ask for," Whaley said. "I'm going to do everything I can to make it."

He compared his first weekend in the NFL to his first days at Ohio State: As a walk-on, he knew he had to stand out in everything he did.

Whaley said he also had an offer from Kansas City. He chose Cincinnati because it is closer to home and there was only one fullback on the roster. There is a good chance the Bengals will keep another on the practice squad as insurance.
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The Columbus Dispatch : Bengals: Receivers in the raw
 
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E-mail to a friend Whaley finishes first mini-camp with Bengals
May 08, 2008
By BILLY BRUCE
The Lawrence Herald

CINCINNATI -- Step one complete.

Tyler Whaley, the former nobody with a somebody attitude, recently finished his first mini-camp with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The former Ironton Fighting Tiger, who took his dreams to Columbus in 2003 and still holds tight to them today, is now a professional football player.

"It's great," Whaley said of his introduction to the NFL. "I had a rude awakening at first because they throw everything at you. It was an anxious day trying to remember the plays while also trying to impress the coaches."

Whaley, a Cincinnati Bengals fan as a child, described putting on the orange-and-black striped helmet as a dream come true.

"It was just like the first time I put on that Ohio State Jersey with my name on the back," he said. "I thought, 'wow, I'm here."

"This is close to being indescribable," he added.

"Indescribable" is a great word to use when talking about Tyler Whaley. He is that rare soul who knows he has the potential to meet his goals, no matter what any of the naysayers think. He believes in himself - and that's all that matters.
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Whaley finishes first mini-camp with Bengals - Huntington, WV -- The Herald-Dispatch
 
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