Devwah Whaley Shocks the Recruiting Trail Breaking News of Silent Commitment to Georgia
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Several teams have swung for the fences with a couple of 2016 running back only to come up short thanks to the recruiting efforts of the University of Georgia. First the Bulldogs took top running back Elijah Holyfield off the board in September and then on Thanksgiving the nation found out a second top player was headed to Athens, Devwah Whaley.
Whaley has been a standout running back for Central High School in Beaumont, Texas, over the past two seasons. As a junior he rushed 182 times for 1,305 yards with 12 scores. His senior year was even better with 230 carries for 1,530 yards and another 21 scores. The 6’0”, 205 pound back has over 20 scholarship offers from across the nation including programs like Alabama, Texas A&M, TCU, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Stanford, Houston, Baylor, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State.
Per reports, Whaley has been a silent commitment to Georgia since his official to Athens on Sept. 19. Whaley wanted to keep his decision under wraps until the Under Armour All-American Game but could no longer keep the big news a secret. Texas A&M and Arkansas hosted Whaley on official visits after his commitment to the Bulldogs and set up a trip to Austin on Dec. 11 to visit the Texas campus.
The Bulldogs have slowly put together their 2016 recruiting class with 17 known commitments, 10 offense and seven on defense. UGA has done a good job of closing their borders off to outside programs securing 13 verbal commitments from in-state kids. The class is highlighted by 5-star quarterback Jacob Eason and 4-star players like DT Julian Rochester, OL Aaron Dowdell and Ben Cleveland, WR Randrecous Davis, Holyfield, and Whaley.
Georgia 2016 Verbal Commitment List
CB Chad Clay, 5’11, 170 lbs, Peactree Ridge HS, Suwanee, GA
CB Tyrique McGhee, 5’10”, 170 lbs, Peach County HS, Fort Valley, GA
CB Malek Young, 5’9”, 172 lbs, Coconut Creek HS, Coconut Creek, FL
DE Chauncey Manac, 6’3”, 252 lbs, Clinch County, Homerville, GA
DT Tyler Clark, 6’3”, 290 lbs, Americus Sumter, Americus, GA
DT Julian Rochester, 6’5”, 327 lbs, McEachern, Powder Springs, GA
LB Jaleel Laguins, 6’1”, 210 lbs, Oconee County, Watkinsville, GA
OG Chris Barnes, 6’3”, 274 lbs, Lee County, Leesburg, GA
OG Aaron Dowdell, 6’3”, 305 lbs, Creekside HS, Atlanta, GA
OT Ben Cleveland, 6’6”, 327 lbs, Stephens County, Toccoa, GA
QB Jacob Eason, 6’5”, 207 lbs, Lake Stevens HS, Lake Stevens, WA
RB Elijah Holyfield, 5’10”, 195 lbs, Woodward Academy, College Park, GA
RB Devwah Whaley, 6’0”, 205 lbs, Central HS, Beaumont, TX
TE Charlie Woerner, 6’5”, 220 lbs, Rabun County HS, Tiger, GA
WR Darion Anderson, 6’1”, 170 lbs, Houston County, Warner Robins, GA
WR Randrecous Davis, 5’11”, 180 lbs, Mays HS, Atlanta, GA
WR Javon Wims, 6’4”, 205 lbs, Hinds C.C., Raymond, MS
Photo credit: dawgnation.com; Whaley in a Bulldogs uniform.