Even in the minutes leading up to his official signing announcement, Spiro's McKinley Whitfield was unsure where he wanted to play.In the end, though, he decided to stay with the place where he had originally committed to playing - the University of Tulsa. Whitfield made it official Wednesday afternoon as he signed a letter of intent with the Golden Hurricane.
"I finally got around to make a decision probably around fourth hour (in class Wednesday)," Whitfield said. "I just felt like that was the best fit for me."
But Whitfield's decision wasn't an easy one. There was strong interest from the University of Minnesota, and in fact, Whitfield made a visit to the Big Ten school this past weekend. Then Wednesday morning, the University of Louisville jumped into the picture and made a last-minute offer.Whitfield stayed firm with his decision to sign with Tulsa.
"Tulsa's close to home and everything like that, and I just felt like that was good for me," he said. "I'll be close to my family and my friends, stuff like that. It was hard picking TU because I had big programs like Minnesota coming in and then Louisville called me (Wednesday) morning and offered me, and that just made it more difficult. But at the end of the day, I felt like Tulsa was the best school for me."
As a senior for Spiro this past season, Whitfield played quarterback and safety for the Bulldogs. He had rushed for 1,223 yards and 14 touchdowns on 128 carries while passing for 892 yards and eight TDs. On defense, Whitfield recorded 102 total tackles, intercepted two passes and recovered one fumble.
Whitfield had committed to Tulsa, who was then coached by Bill Blankenship, a Spiro native. But after Blankenship was fired by the Golden Hurricane, Whitfield de-committed. However, upon meeting TU's new coach, Philip Montgomery, Whitfield elected to commit to the Golden Hurricane once again.
"I had been close to coach Blankenship and his staff, and I loved them so much and I didn't want a different coach to come in," Whitfield said. "But when coach Montgomery and his staff got around to see me, I felt comfortable with them and they showed me a lot of love, too.
"I like everything about them. They told me I could play offense and defense and I liked that, too. I'm just ready to get up there and get started."
Whitfield said the TU staff plans on using him at safety as well as receiver, which Whitfield played at Spiro prior to being shifted to quarterback. He added Tulsa doesn't plan on redshirting him, so he may be able to see the field this fall as a true freshman.
"He's close to home, and he's staying in Oklahoma," Spiro coach Chris Bunch said. "I think he signed with them more or less because he's close to home and his parents can come see him more. They also said he's got a chance to play his first year up there, and I think that was something else that won him over more than anything."
SW Times Record
"I finally got around to make a decision probably around fourth hour (in class Wednesday)," Whitfield said. "I just felt like that was the best fit for me."
But Whitfield's decision wasn't an easy one. There was strong interest from the University of Minnesota, and in fact, Whitfield made a visit to the Big Ten school this past weekend. Then Wednesday morning, the University of Louisville jumped into the picture and made a last-minute offer.Whitfield stayed firm with his decision to sign with Tulsa.
"Tulsa's close to home and everything like that, and I just felt like that was good for me," he said. "I'll be close to my family and my friends, stuff like that. It was hard picking TU because I had big programs like Minnesota coming in and then Louisville called me (Wednesday) morning and offered me, and that just made it more difficult. But at the end of the day, I felt like Tulsa was the best school for me."
As a senior for Spiro this past season, Whitfield played quarterback and safety for the Bulldogs. He had rushed for 1,223 yards and 14 touchdowns on 128 carries while passing for 892 yards and eight TDs. On defense, Whitfield recorded 102 total tackles, intercepted two passes and recovered one fumble.
Whitfield had committed to Tulsa, who was then coached by Bill Blankenship, a Spiro native. But after Blankenship was fired by the Golden Hurricane, Whitfield de-committed. However, upon meeting TU's new coach, Philip Montgomery, Whitfield elected to commit to the Golden Hurricane once again.
"I had been close to coach Blankenship and his staff, and I loved them so much and I didn't want a different coach to come in," Whitfield said. "But when coach Montgomery and his staff got around to see me, I felt comfortable with them and they showed me a lot of love, too.
"I like everything about them. They told me I could play offense and defense and I liked that, too. I'm just ready to get up there and get started."
Whitfield said the TU staff plans on using him at safety as well as receiver, which Whitfield played at Spiro prior to being shifted to quarterback. He added Tulsa doesn't plan on redshirting him, so he may be able to see the field this fall as a true freshman.
"He's close to home, and he's staying in Oklahoma," Spiro coach Chris Bunch said. "I think he signed with them more or less because he's close to home and his parents can come see him more. They also said he's got a chance to play his first year up there, and I think that was something else that won him over more than anything."
SW Times Record
