errence Wheatley (CB)
- Height:
5'9"
- Weight:
178
- College:
Colorado
- Conference:
Big 12
- Hometown:
Richardson, TX
- High School:
Plano East
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In 2007, Wheatley garnered preseason All-American second-team (Scout.com, The NFL Draft Report) honors. He was on the Jim Thorpe Award (nation's top defensive back) Watch List and also received All-Big Twelve first-team preseason accolades. He shifted to the demanding left cornerback position, making 17 tackles (14 solo) with eight pass deflections and two interceptions. He caused a fumble and gained 506 yards on 19 kickoff returns (26.6-yard average).
Through 37 games at Colorado, Wheatley started 25 contests. He participated in 1,933 defensive plays, recording 142 tackles (111 solo) with 1 1/2 sacks for minus-5 yards, 6 1/2 stops for losses for 13 yards and five quarterback pressures. He recovered two fumbles and caused three others. He also deflected 27 passes (tied for ninth in Colorado history). He ranks tied for sixth in school history with 11 interceptions for 124 yards in returns (11.3 avg) and his two touchdowns rank second on the Colorado all-time record list. He ranks fifth in school history with 937 yards on 38 kickoff returns (24.66 avg). He also added 18 hits on the special-teams coverage units.
Career Notes Wheatley's 937 yards on kickoff returns rank fifth in school history behind Ben Kelly (1,798 yards, 1997-99), M.J. Nelson (1,198 yards, 1986-89), Walter Stanley (1,172 yards, 1980-81) and Bill Symons (1,051 yards, 1962-64)...His 506 yards on kickoff returns in 2007 marked the eighth time in school history that a player gained over 500 yards in that category in a season...His 11 interceptions tied Steve Rosga (1992-96) and Ben Kelly (1997-99) for sixth on Colorado's all-time list, topped only by John Stearns (16, 1970-72), Chris Hudson (15, 1991-94), **** Anderson (14, 1965-67), Tim James (13, 1987-90) and Deon Figures (12, 1988-92)...Wheatley returned two of interceptions for touchdowns during his career, one shy of the school record of three scores by Victor Scott (1980-83)... His five interceptions in 2006 rank behind **** Anderson (seven in 1967), Cullen Bryant (seven in 1972), Tim James (six in 1990) and Deon Figures (six in 1992) on the school's season-record list...Ranks ninth in Colorado annals with 27 pass deflections.
Analysis
Analysis Positives: Has a lean, but defined frame that can carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness...Shows good thickness in his thighs and calves and a toned upper-body torso with surprising power for a player his size...Builds to top speed in a hurry and shows explosive acceleration throughout his running stride...Has the closing burst to instantly make plays in front of him...His second gear is evident by the way he simply races past opponents on kickoff returns...Has very loose hips to redirect and is fluid changing direction...Never takes false steps in transition and shows very good balance on the move...Fearless in run support, closing on the play and pursuing the ballcarriers with good form to push the running game back inside from the perimeter...Has a keen understanding of the playbook, but will still spend time dissecting plays to discover ways to improve his technique...With his wrist surgeries behind him, he is showing much better power behind his tackling form (see 2007 Colorado State and Oklahoma games), doing a good job of wrapping and driving with his strong legs to rock the opponent back... Has made good strides in run support, knowing how to keep his pads low and attack the outside leg to impede the running back's forward progress...Hard worker in the training room who also puts in extra hours studying game films...Type of athlete that performs best against top-level competition, as he loves the challenge...Dependable field leader who will spend extra time mentoring the younger players (has a bit of Troy Vincent in him, as he tries to understand the assignments of every position)...Could possibly make a good coaching candidate one day due to his grasp of the playbook...Quick to read and react to the ball in flight and shows good confidence in his hand extension and timing on his leaps to get to the ball at its high point...Has the loose hips to quickly get back into the action on the rare times he over-pursues...Has the hand placement and mirror ability to stay tight on the receiver during deep routes...Has an explosive closing burst, doing a good job of keeping the action in front of him...Even with his timed speed, he does not get overconfident and give his opponent a large cushion, preferring to stay tight on his man throughout the route's progression...Demonstrates the body control to accelerate and adjust to the ball in flight...Can play off the ball, knowing he has the timed speed to close on the play...Maintains good relationship with the receiver and when he does eye the backfield, he is smart enough not to bite on play action...Has excellent range to make plays across the field...Very aggressive when combating for jump balls and will not hesitate to sacrifice his body and extend for the ball in a crowd...Shows good patience returning kickoffs, but is sudden when he spots the crease...Catches the ball naturally with his hands with the ability to secure the ball outside his frame...Lowers his pads and hits the opponent with a thud...More of a low-cut tackler, but has good wrap-up form.
Negatives: Will need to add more bulk to his frame to compete at the next level...Is fully recovered now, but has had several surgeries that eventually led to a fusion in his right wrist...Has a good understanding of the playbook, but just gets by academically (will not have a problem grasping the mental aspect of the game)...Plays with good field vision, but did lose focus at times as a junior (showed marked improvement in maintaining concentration as a senior)...Does not need to throttle down coming out of his breaks, but will round his cuts at times and needs to be more crisp when planting and driving...Generally gets good position to make the wrap tackle, but when he takes a side, he lacks the raw power to latch on and drag his opponent down.
Compares To: ELLIS HOBBS-New England...Like Hobbs, Wheatley is a solid shutdown cornerback, thanks to outstanding timed speed and a good understanding of route progression. He is fully recovered from wrist problems that hampered him earlier in his career and showed much better tackling form and power behind his hits as a senior. He has excellent timing and leaping ability competing for the ball in flight and brings added value as a kickoff returner. He makes good adjustments on the move and is an efficient cut tackler who knows how to lower and drive with his shoulder to take the blockers out of action. He will need to continue adding bulk to his frame, but that should not impact his exceptional acceleration. Like Hobbs, he is smart enough to play a variety of roles in the secondary and his versatility will be a plus earlier in his pro career.
Injury Report 2003: Underwent right wrist surgery in March to repair a dislocation.
2004: Bothered by hamstring and groin pulls in August camp...Had a second surgical procedure on his right wrist in February.
2005: Sat out the season after undergoing a third surgery on his right wrist in August.
2006: Broke the metal plate in his wrist vs. Arizona State (9/16), but continued to play, opting for surgery in November at the end of the regular season...Missed action at the end of the Iowa State clash (11/11) due to a concussion.
2007: Left the Florida State game (9/15) with two minutes remaining due to a knee sprain.
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