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PETE YOUNGUSF's big receiver fulfills his promise with spectacular catches.
TAMPA - Out of the thousands of highlights from the weekend of Aug.30, ESPN chose South Florida receiver Huey Whittaker's full-extension, no-way-he-caught-that catch at Alabama as its college football play of the week.
The only thing that has slowed him since was USF's bizarre two-week layoff.
At 6 feet 5 and 230 pounds, Whittaker's imposing physique and improving ability are scaring cornerbacks and altering defensive schemes mid game.
"Every time when we meet as an offense before we run out on the field I tell him, "It's your time,"' said offensive tackle Derrick Sarosi, who at 6-6 is the only guy in the huddle Whittaker looks up to. "I mean, he's 230 pounds, a premier receiver. You've got to single him out.
"We have a bunch of athletes, but he's the go-to guy. Nothing should ever get by him."
On the opening drive last week against Louisville, nothing did. Whittaker shredded the Cardinals for three catches, unfurling for a 13-yard touchdown grab from quarterback Ronnie Banks to tie the score at 7. Later in the first quarter he went over the middle, took a hit then made the catch.
Whittaker, a senior from Springstead High, is so big and strong, a shoulder from a defensive back before the arrival of the ball hardly registers. He has developed into a beast: He made the catch vs. Alabama despite an interference call.
"He's extremely strong for a receiver," Sarosi said. "Look at him."
After getting a good look Louisville decided to double-team him most of the game.
"If you try to stick him one on one, it just doesn't happen," USF center Alex Herron said. "Louisville made a good adjustment."
Whittaker still managed nine catches for 96 yards. In USF's spread-it-around passing attack, Whittaker has been the primary target. In four games he has a team-high 22 catches for 284 yards, including multiple highlight-reel grabs.
"Against Louisville he made a lot of good catches. There was the one over the head in the Army game. The one at Alabama - that one got all of the recognition on ESPN," Herron said. "He's been making good catches all year long."
The past two seasons combined Whittaker had 78 catches for 931 yards and five touchdowns. A sprained knee early last season, however, contributed to a decline from 52 receptions in 2001 to 26 last season.
This season he has taken it up a notch, or two.
"He's really focused," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "He's concentrating better. He's got to play with that kind of consistency."
Whittaker said he recognized the departure of last season's leading receiver, Hugh Smith, and the dangerous DeAndrew Rubin meant he needed to play a bigger role.
"I realized the coaches would be looking my way more and I needed to be ready," Whittaker said. "I'm 100 percent focused on football, and my family and my teammates are behind me."
Whittaker's physical gifts always suggested a tantalizing talent (last week he also leapt to block a field-goal attempt), and he is fulfilling such promise. He has improved at extending his arms and using his hands to catch high passes, and he has gotten better at judging the ball in flight and adjusting to it.
He has lapses. Against Alabama he let a short pass go through his hands, and it was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.
Those moments have become aberrations, though. The big grab has become the norm.
"That's what he has to do," Sarosi said. "I tell him that every time we take the field."
Whittaker, obviously, has been listening.