UCF Commit Analysis: Cornelius Whitehead

InsideKnights.com continues its “Commit Analysis” series with our breakdown of Cornelius Whitehead. This local product was UCF’s second verbal of the 2010 class and gives the Knights a big, physical option at receiver. Take a look at Whitehead’s 2008 highlights, along with a breakdown of his skill set.

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Size, speed and pure athleticism; Cornelius Whitehead has it all. The 6’1”, 165 lb. receiver runs in the 4.5s and has the frame to put on even more muscle and not lose any speed. His athleticism enables him to play all over the field, as Whitehead has played QB, RB, WR, DB and he also lines up as Mount Dora Christian’s kick returner.

Strengths: In a word, Whitehead is explosive. He can score from anywhere on the field in a multitude of ways…Once Whitehead picks up steam, you better get out of his way. He’s a physical runner with excellent burst. His straight-line speed makes it difficult to catch him from behind…He has good vision and has a knack for finding open space. He has a great deal of football smarts and always seems to know where to be…Whitehead will punish defensive backs, as he doesn’t shy away from contact and has learned to run around or through defenders….Decent acceleration, he can get to his second-gear with relative ease…A workout warrior, Whitehead has all the measurables a team can desire.

Weaknesses: Whitehead is clearly a man amongst boys, as he usually faces small school competition. It’s difficult to tell whether Whitehead’s domination stems from his natural ability or the level of competition he faces…He had just over 200 yards receiving last year, as he played all over the field for Mount Dora. UCF will likely use Whitehead at receiver and while he has natural ability, most of his damage as a receiver came from screens and short patterns. There is question as to whether Whitehead is refined enough as a receiver to make an immediate impact.

How commit influences outlook of 2010 class: The Knights have had a lot of problems with the receiving corps starting last year and flowing into this past spring. A lot of the inconsistencies are to due to injuries and inexperience, but the unit has had a difficult time holding on to passes over the past year. Adding Whitehead gives the team pure talent at the position, but the Knights will likely look to bring on a little more speed. UCF might add one more receiver, but Whitehead is a great addition to this class early on.

Overall: Just looking at pure potential alone, Whitehead might be the most anticipated receiver that the Knights have landed in the past two years. He has the potential to evolve into a very good receiver at the next level. The biggest question on Whitehead is if he can be dominant against better talent. If he adjusts to bigger, stronger players and learns the nuances of his position, then the Knights have a nice player on their hands.