Jeremy Whitlow
Wide Receiver
6′-2″, 200 lbs.
rs-Freshman (on scholarship, 4 years to play 4)
Central Catholic HS / Cleveland, Ohio

ALE Ranking last year: #64

What I Know About Him:

Whitlow is a former winner of the prestigious ALE “Asamoah Award” given to the player in each recruiting class who might be lower ranked but will contribute early and become a vital part of the team. Former winners include Walt Aikens in 2009 (played as a true freshman, started some games, and then got kicked off the team), Jay Prosch in 2010 (you know… and, you know), Whitlow in 2011, and V’Angelo Bentley in 2012.

I was all excited to see Whitlow in Rantoul last summer, and one of the first things I saw when I arrived was Whitlow on crutches. He had messed up his ankle in one of the early practices, missed the rest of Rantoul and several practices leading up to the season, and eventually redshirted. But while redshirting, he did win Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year, so he’s got that going for him. Which is usually an indicator of future on-field success.

What I Expect From Him:

I need him to be our 4th receiver. The team doesn’t need him to – I need him. And if he wants to push Ryan Lankford or Spencer Harris for playing time, I’m cool with that. We need receivers that fit in this offense and can take one of the positions and run with it. I’m hoping Whitlow is that guy.

And so is Tim Beckman. Whitlow’s offer list wasn’t the most impressive (we were his only BCS offer, thus qualifying him for the Asamoah Award), but he was being pursued for a certain spread offense in Toledo headed up by one Tim Beckman. Beckman will now get a shot to coach Whitlow that he missed when Whitlow chose the Illini. Here’s hoping he’s a perfect fit.