The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Jordan Whittington drafted by Los Angeles Rams
04.27.2024 | Football
Texas WR Jordan Whittington was selected in the sixth round with the 213th overall pick.
DETROIT – Texas wide receiver Jordan Whittington was selected by the Los Angeles with the 213th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday
Whittington is the 11th Longhorn selected in this year's NFL Draft, the most ever for Texas in six rounds of the draft. Texas now has seven offensive players selected, which is the most ever for the Longhorns through seven rounds of an NFL Draft. Whittington joins Xavier Worthy (1st Round/Chiefs) and Adonai Mitchell (2nd Round/Colts) as the third Longhorn wide receiver taken in this year, the most-ever in a single draft for Texas in the common era of the NFL Draft (since 1967). The Longhorns previously had two receivers taken in the 2020, 2004, 1991 and 1987 drafts.
"Coach McVay and the Rams are going to absolutely love Jordan Whittington. He'll be a do it all player on the field and in the community for LA," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. "There's nobody on our team that was more valuable than J-Whitt in helping us build our program and culture in our three years at Texas. He is an awesome teammate, a great player, and a guy who gives everything he has to the team, on and off the field. We leaned on him heavily in critical times and benefitted greatly from his leadership and the example he set. He's just a great football player and incredible person. Because of the experience he had in his time here, the fact that he changed positions, and all that he's overcome, he's really a resilient player. That's something he's helped so many young players with and a big part of who he is as an unselfish and supportive teammate. He really was our team leader last season, and on the field, he can do it all. He has a great mentality and football IQ in addition to his tremendous combination of strength, speed and explosiveness."
"I love Jordan Whittington and what he meant to our team from a leadership and toughness standpoint. He plays the game the right way. He does all the dirty work that you're looking for from a great all-around player. Yes, he makes plays on first and second down, but he's a sure-handed guy on third down. He's an elite blocker, knows every position on the field and there's no play that he takes off. He's a great teammate and a relentless competitor who ultimately only cares about winning. Jordan has all the measurables, too. He has more size and speed than people probably give him credit for, and that's what allows him to be an every-down player, not to mention the special teams value he provides. He could very easily be a four-core special teamer for any NFL team, he certainly was for us. He's carried himself like a pro for us, has a bright future in the NFL and will be a great addition to the LA Rams."
A native of Cuero, Texas, Whittington played in 41 games with 25 starts during his five years on the Forty Acres. He ranks 12th in program history with 141 receptions, and 14th with 1,757 receiving yards. He was a two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the league's coaches (2022-23) after converting from running back following the 2019 season.
As a senior in 2023, Whittington appeared in all 14 games with eight starts, totaling 42 receptions for 505 yards and one touchdown. He equaled his career high with 10 receptions and had a career-high 115 receiving yards in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma. Whittington came through in the clutch during Texas' postseason run, making four catches for 48 yards in the Big 12 Championship Game victory over Oklahoma State, then hauling in four receptions for 70 yards in the CFP Semifinal against Washington. In 2022, he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors after establishing career highs with 50 receptions and 652 yards with one touchdown.
A four-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree and five-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, Whittington graduated with a degree in sports communication.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
On being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams:
Thank God it was just a beautiful experience and something I've dreamed of, a surreal moment, so I'm glad my family got to see it. We were sitting here waiting for like four hours, so it was a special moment when it came, and I'm glad that it did, and I'm glad it was that organization. I've met with the Rams, I love their scheme, I see what they do with a lot of players as far as using their versatility and their skills, and I'm excited to be a part of it.
On how he fits in the scheme:
I think in a great way. They do a lot of motions, get a lot of mismatches, I feel like their offense is a mental test, and I think I'm pretty good at that. It takes a lot mentally to play in their offense, and I think that's something I strive in. I see the ways they use Puka (Nacua) with all the different ways to block, you want someone to get gritty, and I think I'm really good at that, so I think it's mutually beneficial.
On what he's most looking forward to joining the Rams receivers room:
Just learning, they've got great receivers there, they've got people who know the game, an amazing head coach, and amazing offensive coordinator, and I think just getting there and winning is the goal, so that's what I'm striving for, and that's what we're going to do.
On going from one elite receiving room to another:
Competition brings out the best in you, and when everyone's striving to be great, like the receiver room here at Texas, even the tight ends, everybody who caught the ball on our team was amazing, and I think that just pulled everybody up. Doing that at the next level, it's more important what you do off the field, what you do in practice outside of the game, in the film room, I think it's really important. I'm looking forward to just taking advantage of all the extra time I have, getting up on people and competing.
On the pre-draft conversations he had with the Rams:
Yeah, I for sure thought it could be a real possibility, just because of what they did with Puka and how the receivers are really gritty. I knew it could be a possibility, but when they called me, I was like, 'Oh, here we go.' So like I said, it's the real moment, but I think it's an amazing fit, so I'm excited on that.
On how he's developed his blocking ability and yards after catch ability and what he's most eager to experience:
I would say I'm most eager to experience, one, playing in the first game, like, 'Okay I'm here.' Then number two, how much more mental it is, how much more you can learn about the game and get advantages that way. I'm a student of the game, and Cooper Cupp I feel like is a professor. I want to get to that level.
On if he's always been gritty:
I'd say I've always been gritty rigid, but I think when you're just super bought in with a team, like I am in love with the University of Texas as a program, and when you love something you're willing to do stuff. You're driven by external factors, it meant a lot for me playing for them, and it's going to mean a lot for me playing for the Rams, so my play won't change for sure.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Headed out west! J-Whitt is a Ram 🤘@J_Whitt3 x @RamsNFL x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/DpfTgMHCa6
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
Welcome to #RamsHouse, @J_Whitt3! pic.twitter.com/NtFmsvZJmf
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 27, 2024
Dream come true 🤘@J_Whitt3 x @RamsNFL x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/cuibd08XPE
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
