Randy Whyte is one of the best players from the Orlando, FL area in the Class of 2018.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Whyte, who attended Lake Nona High School and is headed to Olivet Nazarene University, is a lockdown cornerback.
During his outstanding football career, Whyte already received plenty of recognition such as capturing Defensive Back of the Year and Most Improved awards.
Whyte also plays basketball, in which he’s won Defensive Player of the Year three times.
Whyte is humbled by the recognition he’s received.
“These awards mean to me that my hard work and long nights are paying off,” Whyte said. “And not going unnoticed.”
No matter the opponent, on each snap Whyte is determined to give it his all.
Whyte is going all out.
The motor is always at full throttle whenever Whyte steps between the lines.
“My Mindset at my position I have that dawg mentality,” Whyte said. “No one is beating me.”
Whyte has great passion and energy whenever he’s on the gridiron. Whyte tells why he enjoys the game of football so much.
“I love playing with my brothers and that feeling playing on Friday nights,” Whyte said.
Whyte has learned many valuable lessons from playing football that he applies to his everyday life.
The main one is applying perspective to all situations.
“Football has taught me that nothing is easy,” Whyte said. “You always have to work for it.”
Whyte recalls his favorite football memory.
“When I caught my very first interception and I looked in the stands and see my family going crazy,” Whyte said. “Because it just pushes me to keep doing what I am doing.”
Austin Holton will be Whyte’s defensive backs coach at Olivet Nazarene University.
Holton explains the best parts of Whyte’s game.
“He has great ball awareness, which is highly needed as a cornerback,” Holton said. “Randy has great technique in receiving the ball at its highest point. His frame and vertical were exactly what we were looking for in the recruiting process.”
Whyte takes his role as one of the leaders on the team very seriously. Whyte makes sure he’s a daily positive influence on his peers.
“Being a good teammate to me is someone who includes the team into everything, someone that’s not doing it for themselves, someone that is encouraging. Someone that can you up when you are down,” Whyte said. “The best advice I’ve given my teammate was when he wanted to quit and I told him ‘Why are you doing this?! If it’s because you want to get your mom out of the projects then you can’t just give up because times get rough. Keep work and I promise you will get your turn.’”
Holton adds that Whyte is one of those consummate teammates that every squad needs to be successful.
“I have not coach Randy for a season yet. But In our recruiting philosophy, we are very selective, so we talk to his coach and other third parties and we have to head nothing but good things about Randy,” Holton said. “I’m excited to see Randy develop into a great leader with the Tiger football team and as a student at ONU.”
Whyte is appreciative of having amazing male role models that are supportive.
“My coaches showed me on field how to use my length to my advantage and putting me in tuff situation to see how I would react in that play, and make me figure it out. And off the field they showed me how to make better decisions and what it takes to being a man,” Whyte said. “The best advice my coaches gave me was to be a man of your word.”
Holton is an advocate of Whyte’s capabilities.
“In the recruiting process, we evaluated his film,” Holton said. “He has shown he can make big plays in big moments. I can’t wait till he’s making plays in the purple and gold uniform.”
In addition to making clutch plays, Whyte also has a high level of football IQ as well.
Whyte has excellent football awareness that puts him in position to thrive.
“Randy trust the defensive scheme, reads his keys which allows him to make great plays,” Holton said.
Whyte is on the grind to perfect and hone his craft in any way possible.
“Randy has only played high school football for one season, but despite that, he is a big playmaker,” Holton said. “This shows that he is a hard worker and very coachable.”
Holton explains why he compares Whyte to this player.
“I would compare Randy to the Kansas City Chiefs’ Marcus Peters because they both have great ball awareness and play the ball in the air well,” Holton said. “He’s a great cover corner.”
Meanwhile, Whyte patterns his play after this rising star.
“Derwin James because he’s always constantly working,” Whyte said. “He goes 100 percent every play and he has that dawg in him.”
Whyte is constantly striving for greatness in everything that he does.
“My goals on the field would be never take plays off, always give 100 percent and even if I mess up, don’t get beat deep,” Whyte said. “My goals off the field would be go hard in the weight room, and stay focused on school.”
Whyte can’t wait to begin the next phase of his life.
“I chose Olivet Nazarene University because when I came on campus I felt like I was at home,” Whyte said. “Everyone on the team made me felt welcome and all the coaches were there on my visit and supported me through my visit.”
Whyte lists math as his favorite subject in school.
“Math is difficult and it makes you think and I like figuring things out on my own,” Whyte said.
Holton outlines the next areas of improvement for Whyte.
“I believe players can always improve and it’s the coaches job communicate areas of needed improvement. His man technique can be improved with other techniques,” Holton said. “But I am very excited to work with him and help him get better every day by repetition of our assignment, alignment, and techniques.”
Holton believes the sky is the limit as long as Whyte continues to stay hungry.
“Randy has great potential to be one of the best corners in the conference,” Holton said. “I am very excited to work not only because of this but he has great potential to be a great leader on our team.”
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