Charlie Whitehurst
Encyclopedia
Charles David Whitehurst (born August 6, 1982) is an American football
quarterback
for the Seattle Seahawks
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Clemson
.
He is the son of former Green Bay Packers
quarterback David Whitehurst
.
Whitehurst attended Chattahoochee High School
in Johns Creek, Georgia
and was a three year letterman in football and a four year letterman in baseball.
at Clemson University
, Whitehurst became the first quarterback to go 4-0 in the rivalry between Clemson and the University of South Carolina
, including a 63-17 victory in Columbia on November 22, 2003.
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
. He played in two regular season games as the third-stringer to Billy Volek
and starter Philip Rivers
.
on March 17, 2010, in exchange for a 2011 third-round draft pick to San Diego, and the two teams switched second-round picks in the 2010
. He was signed to a two-year, $8 million contract for a quarterback with essentially no starting experience. Seattle's front office later stated they had already picked up a potential franchise quarterback in the draft by acquiring Whitehurst with the 2011 pick.
On November 7, 2010 Whitehurst started and played in week 9 against the New York Giants
due to an injury suffered by starter Matt Hasselbeck
.
Whitehurst started on January 2, 2011, in a Sunday Night game against the division rival St. Louis Rams
to determine the NFC West champion. In the game, Whitehurst had a 61-yard pass to Ruvell Martin
. Whitehurst was 5-for-5 for 85 yards on the opening drive and finished the first half going 16-for-21 with 138 yards and one touchdown. Hasselbeck returned as the starter for the subsequent playoff game.
Prior to the 2011 preseason, Whitehurst was named the backup to Tarvaris Jackson
, the former Vikings quarterback whom Seattle acquired in the 2011 offseason. However, Jackson and Whitehurst were expected to compete for the starting job once Whitehurst became familiar with the new offensive schemes. Whitehurst went 14-of-19 passing with one touchdown to put Seattle on the board against the Vikings in 2011's second preseason action. Whitehurst took over for an injured Jackson during a week 5 matchup at the New York Giants
. In that game Whitehurst outscored Jackson's 14 points in the first three quarters by putting up 20 points in the fourth quarter, going 11-for-19, 149 yards, and a 27-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin
, securing a 36-25 Seattle victory. Coach Pete Carroll
has named Whitehurst to take over as starting quarterback until Jackson heals from a pectoral injury, although no official date of Jackson's medical clearance has been released. In week 7 against the Cleveland Browns, Whitehurst was named starter after Jackson could not recover from his pectoral injury suffered in the Giants game. Whitehurst did not fare well in the start, going 12 of 30 for 92 yards, with no touchdowns and two turnovers.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
He is the son of former Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
quarterback David Whitehurst
David Whitehurst
Charles David Whitehurst is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 8th round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 6'2" quarterback from Furman University, Whitehurst played seven seasons with the Packers from 1977-1983...
.
Early years
Whitehurst was a player with the Alpharetta Youth Football Association (AYFA). His 1993 90 Pound Division 1 Team won the both the Southeastern Region Championship and the State of Georgia Championship. His 1994 105 Pound Division 1 Team won the Division 1 Championship in GYFC and the Runner up for the State of Georgia Championship. He attended Taylor Road Middle School.Whitehurst attended Chattahoochee High School
Chattahoochee High School
Chattahoochee High School is a public high school in Johns Creek, Georgia within the Fulton County School System and has been recognized as one of America's Blue Ribbon schools. The school is currently ranked as the number one high school in the State of Georgia by ACT average composite scores...
in Johns Creek, Georgia
Johns Creek, Georgia
Johns Creek is a suburban city in Fulton County, Georgia, USA, which incorporated December 1, 2006. It is named for a tributary that runs through the area. The city was created out of the northeastern part of unincorporated Fulton County...
and was a three year letterman in football and a four year letterman in baseball.
College career
While playing college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, Whitehurst became the first quarterback to go 4-0 in the rivalry between Clemson and the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, including a 63-17 victory in Columbia on November 22, 2003.
San Diego Chargers
Whitehurst was drafted by the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. He played in two regular season games as the third-stringer to Billy Volek
Billy Volek
John William Volek is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Fresno State.-Early years:Volek attended Clovis West High School in...
and starter Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
.
Seattle Seahawks
Whitehurst was acquired by the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
on March 17, 2010, in exchange for a 2011 third-round draft pick to San Diego, and the two teams switched second-round picks in the 2010
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He was signed to a two-year, $8 million contract for a quarterback with essentially no starting experience. Seattle's front office later stated they had already picked up a potential franchise quarterback in the draft by acquiring Whitehurst with the 2011 pick.
On November 7, 2010 Whitehurst started and played in week 9 against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
due to an injury suffered by starter Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a National Football League quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and traded to Seattle in 2001. After becoming the starter in 2003, Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and...
.
Whitehurst started on January 2, 2011, in a Sunday Night game against the division rival St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
to determine the NFC West champion. In the game, Whitehurst had a 61-yard pass to Ruvell Martin
Ruvell Martin
Ruvell Martin is an American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers in 2004. He played college football at Saginaw Valley State....
. Whitehurst was 5-for-5 for 85 yards on the opening drive and finished the first half going 16-for-21 with 138 yards and one touchdown. Hasselbeck returned as the starter for the subsequent playoff game.
Prior to the 2011 preseason, Whitehurst was named the backup to Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris DeAndre Jackson is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, the former Vikings quarterback whom Seattle acquired in the 2011 offseason. However, Jackson and Whitehurst were expected to compete for the starting job once Whitehurst became familiar with the new offensive schemes. Whitehurst went 14-of-19 passing with one touchdown to put Seattle on the board against the Vikings in 2011's second preseason action. Whitehurst took over for an injured Jackson during a week 5 matchup at the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In that game Whitehurst outscored Jackson's 14 points in the first three quarters by putting up 20 points in the fourth quarter, going 11-for-19, 149 yards, and a 27-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin
Doug Baldwin
Douglas Colin Roy Baldwin was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman that enjoyed a 20-year hockey career which included NHL stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks...
, securing a 36-25 Seattle victory. Coach Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
has named Whitehurst to take over as starting quarterback until Jackson heals from a pectoral injury, although no official date of Jackson's medical clearance has been released. In week 7 against the Cleveland Browns, Whitehurst was named starter after Jackson could not recover from his pectoral injury suffered in the Giants game. Whitehurst did not fare well in the start, going 12 of 30 for 92 yards, with no touchdowns and two turnovers.