Jonathan Wilhite
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Wilhite is an American football
cornerback
for the Denver Broncos
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the New England Patriots
in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Auburn
.
, where he played football as a running back
and receiver. He was named to the All-Northeast Louisiana team and was a second team All-District selection.
and posted 44 tackles
, seven pass deflections
and five interceptions. He earned Earned National Junior College All-American team and All-Conference first-team and he was rated as the best Junior college
cornerback
in the country. Wilhite was also named first team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
.
with seven pass deflections, five of which came in the last seven games of the season. Wilhite also had 47 tackles which made him fifth on Auburn's defense. Against Alabama
he had five tackles and two pass deflections, against Georgia
he had three tackles and a pass deflection. In the Capital One Bowl
against Wisconsin
he had five tackles. His best performance of the year came against Kentucky
where had seven tackles and one interception and was named SEC
Defensive players of the week.
and three against Ole Miss
. In the Cotton Bowl Classic, he didn't play after he suffered an injury against LSU
.
Wilhite was drafted by the New England Patriots
in the fourth round (129th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft
. On July 17 he signed a contract with New England. He made his NFL debut on September 7, against Kansas City
and had a season high six tackles against St. Louis
on October 26. His first career interception came off of JaMarcus Russell
of the Oakland Raiders
on December 14. After spending most of the season behind cornerback Deltha O'Neal
, Wilhite replaced O'Neal as a starter for the final four weeks of the 2008 season.
Wilhite played in 14 games for the Patriots in 2009
, starting eight. He recorded two interceptions, 45 tackles, and five passes defensed. In 2010
, Wilhite played in the first nine games of the season for the Patriots, starting one, before missing four games with a hip injury. He was placed on injured reserve
on December 15, with a hamstring injury. He finished the season with 20 tackles and two passes defensed.
On August 29, 2011, he was waived.
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...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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 New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. 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 Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
.
Early years
Wilhite attended Ouachita High School in Monroe, LouisianaMonroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
, where he played football as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and receiver. He was named to the All-Northeast Louisiana team and was a second team All-District selection.
2004
In 2004, Wilhite attended Butler County Community CollegeButler County Community College
Butler County Community College is the name of two community colleges in the United States:*Butler County Community College . Butler County Community College, based in El Dorado, Kansas, has changed its name to Butler Community College....
and posted 44 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, seven pass deflections
Pass deflected
In American football a pass deflected, also known as a pass defended, a pass defensed, a pass knock down, or a pass break up, is an incomplete pass that is caused by a defensive player...
and five interceptions. He earned Earned National Junior College All-American team and All-Conference first-team and he was rated as the best Junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
in the country. Wilhite was also named first team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference is a college athletic conference that is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association...
.
2005
As a sophomore in 2005, Wilhite played in 12 games and started the last seven games. He was second on the teamAuburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
with seven pass deflections, five of which came in the last seven games of the season. Wilhite also had 47 tackles which made him fifth on Auburn's defense. Against Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
he had five tackles and two pass deflections, against Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
he had three tackles and a pass deflection. In the Capital One Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
against Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
he had five tackles. His best performance of the year came against Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
where had seven tackles and one interception and was named SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Defensive players of the week.
2006
In 2006, as a junior he started in 10 games and had 24 tackles. Against Alabama he had six tackles and then three against Georgia. Wilhite had two tackles against Arkansas StateArkansas State Red Wolves football
The Arkansas State Red Wolves football team represents Arkansas State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition. The team was originally founded in 1911, and, since 2001, Arkansas State has competed as a member of the...
and three against Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
. In the Cotton Bowl Classic, he didn't play after he suffered an injury against LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
.
2007
As a senior in 2007, Wilhite started in six games: two at cornerback and four at nickel back. He had 30 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery along with two interceptions and two pass deflections. During his college years, Wilhite became the team jokester, often impersonating coaches and teammates with dead-on accuracy. Auburn's Director of High School and NFL relations said of Wilhite's impersonations,New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the fourth round (129th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. On July 17 he signed a contract with New England. He made his NFL debut on September 7, against Kansas City
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and had a season high six tackles against St. Louis
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,...
on October 26. His first career interception came off of JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Trenell Russell is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. Russell played college football for the LSU Tigers where he finished 21–4 as a starter and was named MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. The Oakland Raiders selected Russell with the first overall pick of the 2007...
of the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on December 14. After spending most of the season behind cornerback Deltha O'Neal
Deltha O'Neal
Deltha Lee O'Neal, III is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round as the 15th pick overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, after playing college football at California.A two-time Pro Bowl selection, O'Neal has also been a member...
, Wilhite replaced O'Neal as a starter for the final four weeks of the 2008 season.
Wilhite played in 14 games for the Patriots in 2009
2009 New England Patriots season
The 2009 New England Patriots season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and 50th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and a division title before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs....
, starting eight. He recorded two interceptions, 45 tackles, and five passes defensed. In 2010
2010 New England Patriots season
The 2010 New England Patriots season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League and 51st season overall. The Patriots improved on their 10–6 record from 2009 by finishing with a league-best 14–2 record and clinching the top seed in the AFC, before losing to the New York Jets...
, Wilhite played in the first nine games of the season for the Patriots, starting one, before missing four games with a hip injury. He was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on December 15, with a hamstring injury. He finished the season with 20 tackles and two passes defensed.
On August 29, 2011, he was waived.