An athlete cannot play just any sport; they play the sport they love. One appealing part of the D3 experience is that athletes can play multiple sports. One athlete who fell in love with this philosophy is Andrew Whitaker: a name you’ll want to remember and a contagious smile you’ll never forget. 

As Seneca illustrated in her article, “Going All In,” there is no single attribute that prepares an individual for the national stage in track and field. 

But what about track and field and football? 

Andrew Whitaker is a fifth-year Biomedical Engineering master's student at WashU. He is also a national indoor 60m hurdle champion, a 4x400m relay All-American, and a star football player. Now, the star sprinter and defensive end is taking his talents to the NFL. 

Origin

Whitaker began hurdling in his first year at Lakota West in West Chester, Ohio. His High School coach saw Whitaker’s potential. He took Whitaker under his wing and taught him the fundamentals. After that, it was all “go-go-go,” as Whitaker wanted to be the best. 

Whitaker’s “incredibly impactful” coach had just discovered a national caliber athlete who breathes hard work and dedication. 

Whitaker’s speed and explosiveness did not go unnoticed as many coaches and his mom urged him to try football. Initially, Whitaker “didn’t want to play,” but “on the first day of practice [he] ran around like a menace tackling everyone.” He instantly fell in love with it. 

Whitaker’s passion for football and sprinting resulted in his success in high school. He was a four-year letter winner in track and field. As a team captain in both sports his senior year, Whitaker finished sixth at the Ohio Division 1 state meet in the 300m hurdles and 11th in the 110m hurdles. On the football field, Whitaker was named to the Ohio All-Conference Team. 

When it came time for college, Whitaker chose WashU for a world-class degree, his ability to both sprint and play football, and for the people. “My love is where football is,” he said. He also found hurdling to be an outlet to compete year-round. He found the environment at WashU to be the most important. He said, “The people are the type to support each other and not step on each other to get ahead. The community is different at WashU. I fell in love with the energy.” 

WashU is known for having one of the largest and most spirited cheer squads at cross country nationals. Most of their track team drive out to the course every year, cover themselves in body paint and glitter, and go crazy. At track meets, their entire team roars “olays” at the 200m mark during the 4x400m. 

WashU’s culture is built on servant leadership and the mindset of being the best version of yourself. It’s contagious.

The Grind

Whitaker has a commitment and love for the grind. He also has a contagious aura of positivity and confidence. “You have to be 100% engaged with one task and be ready to switch mindsets back-to-back. A day could look like an exam at twelve, practice at four, and another exam at six. Boom, back to the grind.” 

He constantly puts himself in a position to learn and grow from his experiences, which is one reason he loves being at WashU. At WashU, Whitaker is in a place to aid world-renowned biomedical research while also becoming one of the most dominant hurdlers and defensive backs in D3. As an engineer, Whitaker appreciates his ability to take the problem-solving skills he’s developed in the classroom and apply them to leading the football and track teams as a captain.

Whitaker is no stranger to stepping up on the D3 national stage in track and field. Before this year’s D3 indoor track national championship, Whitaker was a two-time indoor All-American in the 60-meter hurdles (2020) and the 4x400 meter relay (2019). 

This past March, the WashU’s men’s track and field team won its first-ever national championship in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Whitaker played a significant role in WashU’s championship. He won the 60m hurdles and ran the third leg of the runner-up 4x400m performance that sealed WashU’s co-national championship title. 

As a fifth-year Biomedical Engineering student on the pre-med track, he has also stepped up to the “big stage” in academics. He currently aids one of his professor’s world-renowned research in Biomedical Engineering. 

Whitaker could have headed straight to medical school in the fall. Instead, the CoSIDA Academic All-American and NFF Campbell Trophy Semifinalist prepared for the biggest stage: The NFL Draft. 

NFL Process

Less than a week after his 60m hurdle title and team title, Whitaker drove to the University of Missouri for his NFL Pro Day. Pro Day allows Whitaker to pique the interest of multiple NFL teams with hopes of securing an invite into a team’s rookie camp. These rookie camps enable Whitaker to go head-to-head with other high-level players.

Whitaker felt mentally and physically worn down. He noted that “after peaking every weekend, it felt like another meet when [he] got there.” 

He didn’t think much about how big the moment was; he approached it as if he was lining up at the start line of another track meet. Whitaker followed his regular meet-day routine and focused on impressing NFL scouts with his speed. With a fast 40-yard dash time, Whitaker could showcase his agility abilities in various testing and positional drills. 

After Pro Day, the Cincinnati Bengals invited Whitaker to an annual workout for local NFL prospects. On May 4th, Whitaker received his first minicamp offer: A rookie minicamp with the Green Bay Packers. Whitaker displayed his excitement after his weekend with the Green Bay Packers:

“The Packers rookie camp went great. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to compete for an amazing franchise like the Packers. The Packers are looking to grow some new receiver corps, so I got battle-tested against a wide range of receivers from the best of D3 to a top 2nd round pick. I locked down throughout the weekend and really surprised a lot of people. Great reviews from the coaches and front office.”

It takes a unique caliber of athlete to transition from being at the top of the NCAA to the NFL. One has to be in sync with both their body and mind. Whitaker left some parting words of advice for student-athletes and individuals alike:

Parting Wisdom

1. Whenever you accomplish a goal, whether big or small, enjoy the moment. Many athletes are too “wrapped up in this go-go-go mindset.” Take a step back to reflect and say to yourself: “Wow, I did great today.” Learning how to do this is part of maturing as an athlete.

2. Ask yourself: “How much can you be the better version of yourself each day?” You can only compare yourself to yourself. Whether it’s putting in a national championship worth of practice or a studious amount of time on a project, that’s how you can reach your potential.

3. Improve each day by doing as much as you can in the moment. Don’t shroud yourself in how you think your future should look. Focusing on the day-to-day and living in the moment allows you to enjoy and believe in what you’re doing.