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Hernando Today

Whittaker Blazing A New Trail

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: June 18, 2008

Since the days when he starred at the University of South Florida, Class of 1999 Springstead High graduate Huey Whittaker has lived the life of a football journeyman.

Bouncing from various NFL training camps, to a stop in NFL Europe, to trying to just crack the roster of the Tampa Bay Storm, his pigskin pursuits have taken in him down a long and winding road.

Finally, the 26-year-old who turns 27 tomorrow has found a foothold with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League.

With one game left in the regular season, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Whittaker is the Blaze's leading receiver with 122 catches for 1,490 yards and 31 touchdowns.

He has also tallied eight rushing touchdowns, though he has only carried the ball 19 times for 15 yards.

"I'm good. I'm living life," Whittaker said. "I'm out there doing what I have to do as far as doing my family right and handling my business. I just want to keep going. I'm moving right along."

Getting his chance

Whittaker joined the Blaze late last season after a frustrating season and a half with the Storm. He did not record a single reception with the Storm last year after catching four passes for 22 yards in 2006.

He spent most of his time with Tampa Bay on the inactive list, leading to his moving on. In 2007, he caught two passes for 33 yards and a touchdown for Utah.

"There was no opportunity for my career to go further," Whittaker said of his time with the Storm. "I just wasn't getting the chance I needed.

"...They (the Blaze) gave me an opportunity. They weren't going to play favorites. They'll play who they thought was the best on the field and was going to help us win."

The Blaze sport a 5-10 mark heading into the regular-season finale at the Arizona Rattlers this Saturday. However, they are still alive for a playoff spot, currently seeded fourth in the American Conference.

Meanwhile, Whittaker and his family have adjusted to life in Utah. He and his wife Barbara have two daughters, 21-month-old Jenai and 7-month-old Tamia, plus a rottweiler named Icyss.

"It's different," Whittaker said. "There's mountains; thin air. But it's something you deal with. My family is up here with me. It's fine. We like it."

Still, the family lives in Riverview during the off-season. Whittaker said his mother has moved to Georgia, though he has an aunt, uncle and some cousins still living in Hernando County. He added that he still keeps in touch with some old friends from the area.

Though his football journey has made him well-traveled, and though he would still like to move on to bigger and better things, Whittaker seems happy with the current state of his career.

"Obviously everyone wants to get to the NFL," Whittaker said. "But if my career ends up being in the Arena League, that's solid. Whatever it is, I just want to be successful in it.

"I felt like (the journey) is something God meant for me to go through. There are a couple things I may have did different, but in all I would have done things the same.

"I'm very blessed to have what I have and to get to the point where I'm at."

BY THE NUMBERS: HUEY WHITTAKER
Receiving
YEAR REP YDS YPC TD LG
2008 122 1,490 12.2 31 42
Rushing
YEAR ATT YDS AVG. TD LG
2008 19 15 0.79 08 06

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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