Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Winston-Salem Native, Whiteheart, Honored to be in This Position
8/11/2022 11:58:00 AM | Football
“It’s an honor to be named captain. Here, our peers select you and I don’t take this responsibility lightly.” - Blake Whiteheart
As a freshman, a young Blake Whiteheart just came up with two standard answers every time tight end coach Wayne Lineburg quizzed him on a play.
Just one problem — neither of those answers were ever correct.
"I memorized two answers for everything he asked me, and it was always wrong," Whiteheart recalls. "I didn't take the time when I was younger to master the playbook and really understand why we were doing the things we were doing. That stuff is important. You can't just know what you're going to do, you need to grasp the concept of what everyone else is doing in concert. Once you start doing that, the game becomes slower and easier.
"I was always getting yelled at, which was deserved. I just didn't put the time in, because I was immature."
The first semester or two at Wake Forest can be a rough adjustment period for a lot of players, Lineburg said, and Whiteheart was no different.
"He came in here and really struggled, although a lot of people do the same," Lineburg said. "The way he's matured off the field has been impressive. To develop into a team captain is unbelievable. It's not like he's the same person.
"He took it upon himself in his third year and really flipped the switch and started putting in the work. He just got better-and-better every year. He recognized he had to fix a few things, and he did. He had to figure out how to approach practice and the preparation. It really made a difference for him."
It was really the summer of the 2020 season when the light flipped on for Whiteheart, who was named a team captain this season through a vote of his teammates.
"In college, it's team first," he said. "Everyone you're with is essentially the best player on their high school team. But at this level, it's a team-first mentality. Once you figure that out, you'll fit in and everything will all come together.
"Things started to come easier, and goals I set became more realistic. I realized that you have to do that work. It's not going to just be gifted to you. Your playing time, weight gains and grades aren't going to be gifted. Once you buckle down and have that mindset, it becomes easier. The work is still hard, but the process is easier.
I'm still growing everyday. It's going to be hard, but we're going to get through it."
By the time the 2020 season kicked off, Whiteheart found himself in nearly an even time-split position with Brandon Chapman, who was a team captain himself.
"Obviously, he and Chapman shared reps the last couple years, but even then he was a great leader," Lineburg said. "Now, it's completely on him, and he's doing a great job of pushing them in the weight room and pushing them in practice. He meets with them off the field. He's almost part of the coaching staff, in terms of coaching and mentoring the younger guys."
Whiteheart has contributed 20 catches for 246 yards and a trio of touchdowns combined over the last two seasons, but perhaps more importantly has become a powerful blocker by establishing himself as the fourth-strongest player on the team. He joined the elusive 1,400 pound club, exceeding that weight combined on three lifts: the bench press, squat and power clean.
"You have to be able to run a 20-yard route and then come back on the next play and block an ACC-level defensive end," Lineburg said about the variety of tasks assigned to a Wake Forest tight end. "You have to be really strong, in great shape, have the size to handle those guys, but also be able to run and be athletic. It's hard to find guys who can do that, plus play 10-14 plays in a row.
"In high school, he was never asked to block a whole lot, and he's had to develop that part of his game. He's a tall, athletic kid who has done some great things for us because of his hard work and effort. Whatever it takes for us to be successful, he's willing to do. Whatever we ask him to do, he does it."
While also being tasked with bringing along the younger tight ends in the room, Whiteheart had a terrific spring camp and stands to be an important cog in the record-breaking Wake Forest offense this fall.
"He's really coming along and had an excellent spring," Lineburg said. "His routes have improved and he caught the ball well. He's become a really good blocker and is the fourth-strongest guy on the team. He's really worked his tail off in the weight room.
"Where he's come in his time here is really incredible, because he really effectively played wide receiver in high school. Just seeing his development has been really neat. He's worked as hard as anyone we've had here."
Whiteheart credits the leadership in the tight end room from players like Brandon Chapman and Jack Freudenthal for his development and personal style of leadership.
"It's sad to see them go, but it's a new type of pressure," he said. "Now, it's on me to lead this younger group of guys and prepare them. But they did a great job preparing me, just like the tight ends before preparing them. Being the guy like that definitely wakes you up and matures you. I'm excited to take on that role, but really miss him (Chapman). He's one of my best friends.
"It's an honor to be named captain. Here, our peers select you and I don't take this responsibility lightly. Being bestowed that is an honor I don't take lightly. I appreciate the guys who trust me and voted for me. I'm grateful to lead these guys with the other captains, and be a resource for them as much as I can. I just want to be their ally and their voice. I just want to keep a humble heart and do what I can to help the guys around me."
The depth at tight end alongside and behind Whiteheart was still yet to be decided as the Demon Deacons got back together for fall camp, but it was the spirit of teamwork and competition together that helped sort all that out with several young players vying for coveted in-game snaps.
"In the room, there's no butting heads or people trying to get in front of one another," Whiteheart explained. "We're all focused on winning. That's what makes Wake Forest unique. Yeah, we're competing against each other, but we're mentally competing against NC State and North Carolina right now. We're competing in the weight room and in sprints and rep-by-rep.
"Everyone is working hard, but how do we gain that edge over the teams we're going to play? That's the focus in our room — how do we get better as a unit? If we can help each other get better in our footwork, blocking or route running, then the rest of those things will take care of themselves. Each individual will get better and it's going to help the team win."
The belief in the tight end room is that the small, extra things they do in addition to practice will add up to make an impact in the fourth quarter of close games. Whiteheart mentions grabbing players to hit the film room with him, working directly with the offensive line and with quarterback Sam Hartman as vital for personal development and the betterment of the unit.
"All that extra little stuff we do as a unit makes us closer and it helps us all click on the same page," he said. "That will give us that little edge over everyone else and will help us win fourth-quarter games. Who is more disciplined and prepared? Every single day you want to show up and be the same person, work hard and do a little extra. That will bring success."
In terms of goals for the 2022 season, it's pretty simple for Whitehear — win football games.
"I'm such a true believer that those personal things you want to achieve will come, if the team comes first," he said. "If we win a bunch of games, hopefully all the tight ends are getting more catches. You just have to focus on the team, depth and winning each game."
Coming from Winston-Salem's Mount Tabor High School, playing at Wake Forest has been a dream come true for Whiteheart, despite the early challenges he faced in his career. The optimum way for him to enjoy what potentially could be his final season in the Old Gold & Black is to compete for championships, but he's often reminded of an old adage from Lineburg — how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
"An ACC Championship and National Championship are the things we're always pushing for," Whiteheart said. "We're aiming to be the best in the country. We have such good leadership here. Coach (Clawson) tells us it's a one-week season. You have to focus on the goals of today. If we execute and do our jobs, we're going to win. There's a lot of expectation, and I hope there are, because we're as good as any team in the country. We want that pressure and spotlight.
"I'm so excited for the season and so grateful to be a captain. The work ethic this season is just unbelievable. These guys are hungry and are bought into the team mindset. It makes football so much more fun when you're playing for the guy next to you. There's a lot of expectations and now it's up to us to live up to them."
Just one problem — neither of those answers were ever correct.
"I memorized two answers for everything he asked me, and it was always wrong," Whiteheart recalls. "I didn't take the time when I was younger to master the playbook and really understand why we were doing the things we were doing. That stuff is important. You can't just know what you're going to do, you need to grasp the concept of what everyone else is doing in concert. Once you start doing that, the game becomes slower and easier.
"I was always getting yelled at, which was deserved. I just didn't put the time in, because I was immature."
The first semester or two at Wake Forest can be a rough adjustment period for a lot of players, Lineburg said, and Whiteheart was no different.
"He came in here and really struggled, although a lot of people do the same," Lineburg said. "The way he's matured off the field has been impressive. To develop into a team captain is unbelievable. It's not like he's the same person.
"He took it upon himself in his third year and really flipped the switch and started putting in the work. He just got better-and-better every year. He recognized he had to fix a few things, and he did. He had to figure out how to approach practice and the preparation. It really made a difference for him."
It was really the summer of the 2020 season when the light flipped on for Whiteheart, who was named a team captain this season through a vote of his teammates.
"In college, it's team first," he said. "Everyone you're with is essentially the best player on their high school team. But at this level, it's a team-first mentality. Once you figure that out, you'll fit in and everything will all come together.
"Things started to come easier, and goals I set became more realistic. I realized that you have to do that work. It's not going to just be gifted to you. Your playing time, weight gains and grades aren't going to be gifted. Once you buckle down and have that mindset, it becomes easier. The work is still hard, but the process is easier.
I'm still growing everyday. It's going to be hard, but we're going to get through it."
By the time the 2020 season kicked off, Whiteheart found himself in nearly an even time-split position with Brandon Chapman, who was a team captain himself.
"Obviously, he and Chapman shared reps the last couple years, but even then he was a great leader," Lineburg said. "Now, it's completely on him, and he's doing a great job of pushing them in the weight room and pushing them in practice. He meets with them off the field. He's almost part of the coaching staff, in terms of coaching and mentoring the younger guys."
Whiteheart has contributed 20 catches for 246 yards and a trio of touchdowns combined over the last two seasons, but perhaps more importantly has become a powerful blocker by establishing himself as the fourth-strongest player on the team. He joined the elusive 1,400 pound club, exceeding that weight combined on three lifts: the bench press, squat and power clean.
"You have to be able to run a 20-yard route and then come back on the next play and block an ACC-level defensive end," Lineburg said about the variety of tasks assigned to a Wake Forest tight end. "You have to be really strong, in great shape, have the size to handle those guys, but also be able to run and be athletic. It's hard to find guys who can do that, plus play 10-14 plays in a row.
"In high school, he was never asked to block a whole lot, and he's had to develop that part of his game. He's a tall, athletic kid who has done some great things for us because of his hard work and effort. Whatever it takes for us to be successful, he's willing to do. Whatever we ask him to do, he does it."
While also being tasked with bringing along the younger tight ends in the room, Whiteheart had a terrific spring camp and stands to be an important cog in the record-breaking Wake Forest offense this fall.
"He's really coming along and had an excellent spring," Lineburg said. "His routes have improved and he caught the ball well. He's become a really good blocker and is the fourth-strongest guy on the team. He's really worked his tail off in the weight room.
"Where he's come in his time here is really incredible, because he really effectively played wide receiver in high school. Just seeing his development has been really neat. He's worked as hard as anyone we've had here."
Whiteheart credits the leadership in the tight end room from players like Brandon Chapman and Jack Freudenthal for his development and personal style of leadership.
"It's sad to see them go, but it's a new type of pressure," he said. "Now, it's on me to lead this younger group of guys and prepare them. But they did a great job preparing me, just like the tight ends before preparing them. Being the guy like that definitely wakes you up and matures you. I'm excited to take on that role, but really miss him (Chapman). He's one of my best friends.
"It's an honor to be named captain. Here, our peers select you and I don't take this responsibility lightly. Being bestowed that is an honor I don't take lightly. I appreciate the guys who trust me and voted for me. I'm grateful to lead these guys with the other captains, and be a resource for them as much as I can. I just want to be their ally and their voice. I just want to keep a humble heart and do what I can to help the guys around me."
The depth at tight end alongside and behind Whiteheart was still yet to be decided as the Demon Deacons got back together for fall camp, but it was the spirit of teamwork and competition together that helped sort all that out with several young players vying for coveted in-game snaps.
"In the room, there's no butting heads or people trying to get in front of one another," Whiteheart explained. "We're all focused on winning. That's what makes Wake Forest unique. Yeah, we're competing against each other, but we're mentally competing against NC State and North Carolina right now. We're competing in the weight room and in sprints and rep-by-rep.
"Everyone is working hard, but how do we gain that edge over the teams we're going to play? That's the focus in our room — how do we get better as a unit? If we can help each other get better in our footwork, blocking or route running, then the rest of those things will take care of themselves. Each individual will get better and it's going to help the team win."
The belief in the tight end room is that the small, extra things they do in addition to practice will add up to make an impact in the fourth quarter of close games. Whiteheart mentions grabbing players to hit the film room with him, working directly with the offensive line and with quarterback Sam Hartman as vital for personal development and the betterment of the unit.
"All that extra little stuff we do as a unit makes us closer and it helps us all click on the same page," he said. "That will give us that little edge over everyone else and will help us win fourth-quarter games. Who is more disciplined and prepared? Every single day you want to show up and be the same person, work hard and do a little extra. That will bring success."
In terms of goals for the 2022 season, it's pretty simple for Whitehear — win football games.
"I'm such a true believer that those personal things you want to achieve will come, if the team comes first," he said. "If we win a bunch of games, hopefully all the tight ends are getting more catches. You just have to focus on the team, depth and winning each game."
Coming from Winston-Salem's Mount Tabor High School, playing at Wake Forest has been a dream come true for Whiteheart, despite the early challenges he faced in his career. The optimum way for him to enjoy what potentially could be his final season in the Old Gold & Black is to compete for championships, but he's often reminded of an old adage from Lineburg — how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
"An ACC Championship and National Championship are the things we're always pushing for," Whiteheart said. "We're aiming to be the best in the country. We have such good leadership here. Coach (Clawson) tells us it's a one-week season. You have to focus on the goals of today. If we execute and do our jobs, we're going to win. There's a lot of expectation, and I hope there are, because we're as good as any team in the country. We want that pressure and spotlight.
"I'm so excited for the season and so grateful to be a captain. The work ethic this season is just unbelievable. These guys are hungry and are bought into the team mindset. It makes football so much more fun when you're playing for the guy next to you. There's a lot of expectations and now it's up to us to live up to them."
Players Mentioned
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