At 5-foot-8 and 178 pounds, Kermit Whitfield is the smallest of 100-plus prospects in St. Petersburg this week for the East-West Shrine Game, but he sees hope all over the NFL in similarly sized players who have used their speed to find success.
"Tavon Austin's doing good. Tyreek Hill, AB (Antonio Brown), people like that," he said. "Taylor Gabriel, Brandin Cooks, little guys like that."
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/...2309827?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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Mark works for PewterReport and also covers Jameis Winston / Bucs
PewterReport.com is covering all of the East West Shrine practices this week from St. Petersburg, and will daily provide a player spotlight article.
On Monday we profile former FSU standout wide receiver/kick returner Kermit Whitfield.
The speedy Whitfield helped the Seminoles come from behind to beat the Auburn Tigers in the 2013 NCAA championship game with a 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. While that play stands out in the mind of college football fans more than others, Whitfield was also a big contributor in the passing game for the Noles during his career, and finished the 2016 season second on the team in receiving yards (798), touchdown receptions (6) and was third in catches with 57.
Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston told PewterReport.com on Monday evening, Whitfield is a speed demon.
“(Kermit) can stretch the field on any NFL team,” Winston said. “Kermit came to FSU as one of the fastest men alive, maybe second to (his cousin) Marvin Bracy who left FSU for a track career, but was a major part of us winning the national championship with his 101-yard kickoff return.”
Kermit Whitfield – Photo by: Mark Cook/PR
Whitfield was names second team All-ACC this season as a receiver by the media and coaches, and was clocked at 4.37 coming out of high school. While his size (5-8) could hurt his draft stock, his versatility to return kickoffs and punts, plus as a receiver, and sometime ball carrier, will intrigue a number of NFL teams, perhaps even the Bucs come this April.
What are some of the things you wants to show scouts this week?
“Show them I can block. Catch balls. Run routes. Coming in and out of my breaks. And kick returns. I am already good at catching kickoff returns, but showing those who haven’t seen me on punt returns yet. Just me fielding the ball. Getting some yards and possibly score.”
What have you heard, if anything from scouts or teams?
“I haven’t really heard anything yet. I am basically here to turn heads.”
What are some of the things you want to improve on before the draft?
“Basically processing information. Learning things from the guys teaching me what it is like to be in the NFL. Studying film. Stuff like that.”
Thoughts on if you were to be drafted by the Buccaneers and being reunited with Jameis Winston?
“That would be great. With me being in Tampa (training) he might be throwing to me while I am training. So we will get that timing.”
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"Whitfield was another player who I thought had a pretty nice day.
With all the athleticism he possesses, if he didn’t stand out on the day where guys are usually just trying to get their bearings, I would have been a bit worried, but he did.
In the clip above, Whitfield wins on a route you’re going to see a lot from him if he’s ever going to be a real offensive piece in this league. We know he can be a dynamic kick returner, but in order to play offense, he’s going to have to master quick separations form the slot in instances like the one above. There was no push off or contact even made by Whitfield because he knew he didn’t need it. That’s what we wanted to see from him today and he showed it. "
http://www.pewterreport.com/east-west-shrine-game-practice-recap-day-1/
Miss #8 already.
Go Noles!
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