Jordan Whitehead

Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics

Photo by: Pete Madia/Pitt Athletics

Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics

Position:
DB
Class:
Junior
Height:
5-11
Weight:
195
Hometown:
Aliquippa, Pa.
High School:
Central Valley

Jordan Whitehead Superlatives
2018 NFL Draft Pick (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 4, Pick 117)
2016 Second Team All-ACC
2015 ACC Overall Rookie of the Year
2015 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year
2015 Third Team All-ACC

2017: Played in and started nine games at safety…despite missing the initial three contests of the season, still finished as Pitt’s third-leading tackler with 60 stops…also compiled four pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery… Honorable Mention All-ACC defensive selection by league coaches…resumed his role as a two-way player, rushing for 142 yards and a TD on 22 carries (6.5 avg.) and catching two passes for seven yards on the year…also had a two-point conversion rush (at Syracuse)...named ACC Co-Defensive Back of the Week for his performance at Duke…had a team-high 10 tackles and the game-clinching interception in a 24-17 win over the Blue Devils…with Pitt clinging to a seven-point lead in the game's waning moments, Duke mounted a final drive, reaching the Pitt 22…but Whitehead ended the threat and the game with a diving interception at the Pitt 8-yard line with 45 seconds remaining.

2016: Selected All-ACC (second team) by the league's coaches and media...played in and started nine contests...missed the final three games due to an injury sustained at Clemson (Nov. 12)...totaled 65 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, an interception and two PBUs on the year...for the second consecutive season, also made contributions on offense...averaged 10.9 yards per rush, totaling 98 yards on nine carries...was a two-way starter (at safety and wide receiver) in Pitt's 45-31 victory at Virginia...made perhaps the play of the game at UVa when he returned an interception 59 yards for a TD just before halftime, giving the Panthers a lead they would never relinquish...named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week for his Virginia performance, which included his "pick six" and four tackles on defense and three rushes for 28 yards (9.3 avg.) on offense...had a season-high 12 tackles with a forced fumble at North Carolina...in the Panthers' 42-39 win over Penn State, compiled seven tackles, a TFL assist and a fumble recovery...returned his fumble nine yards to the PSU 30, then took a jet sweep 28 yards to the Nittany Lions' 2, setting up a Pitt TD.

2015: Established himself as one of college football’s top newcomers with a decorated debut season…a consensus Freshman All-American who was honored by no fewer than six different selectors…named the ACC’s Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA)…became the first defensive player to be selected by ACSMA as the ACC Rookie of the Year since North Carolina cornerback Dre’ Bly in 1996…ACC coaches also named Whitehead the Defensive Rookie of the Year…was a co-recipient of the coaches’ overall Rookie of the Year award with Pitt tailback Qadree Ollison…selected All-ACC (third team) at safety by the media and coaches…named the ACC Rookie of the Week a league-high three times in 2015 (for his performances against Virginia, Notre Dame and Duke)…also was honored on the ACC All-Academic Football Team…led Pitt in tackles with 109 stops, the most by a true freshman in school history…also compiled six tackles for loss, a sack assist, six pass breakups, one interception and a fumble return for a touchdown (22 yards against Navy in the Military Bowl)…in November, the Pitt coaching staff began utilizing Whitehead on offense…as a running back, he averaged 10.2 yards per attempt, rushing 12 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns…also had two receptions for 10 yards…played in all 13 games, starting the final 12 contests at strong safety…had a career-high 16 tackles with a TFL assist at Iowa…had 12 tackles against Virginia…had 11 tackles against Notre Dame and also rushed four times for 27 yards (6.8 avg.) and two touchdowns (10 and three yards)…in Pitt’s 31-13 win at Duke, had nine tackles, an interception and broke up a pass in the end zone…on offense against the Blue Devils, rushed for 38 yards on four carries (9.5 avg.)…against Navy in the Military Bowl, had 10 tackles, a TFL assist and returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown…also carried twice for 43 yards (21.5 avg.) against the Midshipmen.

HIGH SCHOOL: Pennsylvania’s No. 1 overall prospect according to Rivals…one of the most highly recruited cornerbacks in the country…a playmaker on both sides of the ball for Central Valley, where he was a starter since his freshman year…was especially prolific as a senior…in his final season, totaled 35 touchdowns, scoring five different ways…scored TDs by rushing, receiving, interception return, kickoff return and punt return…average length of his TDs was 43.7 yards…rushed for 1,933 yards on 148 attempts (13.1 avg.)…had 24 receptions for 471 yards (19.6 avg.)…compiled 97 tackles and seven interceptions on defense…led Central Valley to a 15-1 record, the WPIAL Class AAA championship and the PIAA state title game…Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Beaver County Times Player of the Year…selected All-State Class AAA by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers…Pennsylvania Football News first team All-Class AAA…Pennsylvania Football News Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year…named to the Pennsylvania Football News 2014 #TeamPA, which recognized the best players in the state regardless of school classification...recipient of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association Mercury Award, honoring the top high school football player in Western Pennsylvania…selected to play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl…rated the nation’s No. 6 cornerback by Rivals, No. 11 by ESPN, No. 17 by Scout and No. 20 by 247Sports…named to the Rivals 100 (No. 75), Scout 300 (No. 128), ESPN 300 (No. 142) and Top247 (No. 163)…played under Coach Mark Lyons…also a track letterman.

PERSONAL: Jordan Tyler Whitehead, born 3/18/97, is the son of Gregory and Antonia Whitehead…has one brother and one sister…enrolled in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.