Wake Forest Athletics
Whitlock Impresses Scouts at Pro Day
3/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 31, 2014
By Kylie Hargreaves, WakeForestSports.com
During Wake Forest's Pro Day on March 17, Nikita Whitlock impressed the 22 NFL scouts in attendance with his seemingly smooth transition from All-ACC nose guard to potential pro fullback.
The Demon Deacon from Wyile, Texas is coming off a phenomenal senior season. Whitlock finished the year with nine sacks, 82 total tackles en route to being named first team All-ACC at nose guard. The four-year starter led the Deacon defense throughout the season and finished fourth in the voting for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He was also fourth in the ACC with 19 tackles for loss. After finishing his collegiate career he was invited to play in the Medal of Honor Bowl.
After his season ended Whitlock was focused and ready to take his talents to the next level and make his dreams a reality.
"Training went great," said Whitlock. "I learned a new position so it was new to me but I was able to pick it up pretty fast."
During the past couple of months Whitlock has been training in Atlanta at Chip Smith Performance. For the first time in his career he was training on the offensive side of the game rather than on the defensive line. The 5-foot-11 nose guard is making the transition and practicing at fullback and linebacker.
"My love is the d-line, but I'll play anywhere whether it's linebacker or fullback just put me on the field," said Whitlock.
After training in several positions, Whitlock was ready to go for Pro Day; however, he was greeted by unexpected harsh weather conditions on the morning of testing. The rain and ice made for a slippery field and incredibly cold temperatures. This did not stop Whitlock from shining on his big day.
"Pro Day went really well despite the cold," Whitlock said. "It was some of the worst conditions I've ever seen for a Pro Day, but it's a job interview so you have to be prepared."
Despite the bitter weather, the show went on at the Doc Martin Football Complex. After completing the different tests such as the 40-yard dash and three cone drill, Whitlock was able to show the scouts his versatility on defense and offense. "I was able to perform three different position drills and as a fullback I caught every ball thrown to me," said Whitlock.
Where Whitlock really stood out among the rest was inside the weight room. Participants were asked to bench press 225 pounds as many times as possible. Whitlock but up an impressive 43 reps on the bench press testing, which is almost double the average amount of reps recorded in that area of Pro Day testing.
Whitlock's strength and flexibility to play in different positions did not go unnoticed by the scouts that were in attendance. An article written by the NFL dubbed Whitlock as a player to not be forgotten and is even drawing attention from the New England Patriots.
"I don't know whether or not I'll be drafted," said Whitlock. "I just need to get my foot in the door and I will work hard and excel. Everything else will take care of itself."
The future looks bright for the former Demon Deacon who will continue to train in hopes of an opportunity. Whitlock is confident that if does not get drafted at first that he will be picked up for a team's summer camp where he will get a chance to prove he belongs in the NFL.
To see what will happen with Whitlock and other former Deacons, tune in to the NFL Draft May 8-10.
