Holy Cross Athletics

HONORS & AWARDS
All-New England (2021)
First Team All-Patriot League (2019, 2020, 2021)
Second Team All-ECAC (2019)
Connor Award (2021)
Phil Steele’s All-Patriot League First Team (2021)

AS A FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR IN 2021: 

• All-New England selection. 
• Named to All-Patriot League first team.
• Won Msgr. George S. L. Connor Award, presented annually to the person the Holy Cross players are most proud of as a teammate.
• Selected to Phil Steele’s All-Patriot League first team.
• Started all 13 games at defensive end. 
• Totaled 49 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. 
• Forced a fumble and hurried the quarterback six times. 
• Had five tackles and a quarterback hurry in win over UConn (9/4). 
• Made six tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss, while also recording a quarterback hurry in win vs. Georgetown (10/16). 
• Had three tackles for loss, including a sack for a loss of 11 yards, and a pair of quarterback hurries against Bucknell (11/20). 
• Made four tackles and had a sack in FCS playoff victory vs. Sacred Heart (11/27). 

AS A SENIOR IN 2020: 

• All-Patriot League first team selection.
• Started all four games at defensive end.
• Totaled 12 tackles on the year, along with a pair of sacks and two quarterback hurries.
• Had six tackles in Patriot League Championship Game against Bucknell, along with a quarterback hurry and two sacks for a loss of 25 yards (4/17).
• Made five tackles in FCS first round game at South Dakota State (4/24).
• Shortened season played during Spring 2021 due to COVID-19.

AS A JUNIOR IN 2019:

• Started all 13 games at defensive end.
• Named first team All-Patriot League and second team All-ECAC.
• Totaled 33 tackles on the year, including 28 solo stops, five quarterback sacks and seven tackles for loss.
• Also broke up two passes.
• Finished the season ranked ninth in the Patriot League in sacks.
• Had five solo tackles and a pair of sacks during the victory at Bucknell.
• Made three tackles against Lafayette, including two quarterback sacks.
• Posted a quarterback sack during the win at Fordham.
• Tallied four tackles with one tackle for loss during the NCAA playoff game at Monmouth.

AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2018:

• Saw action in 10 games along the defensive line.
• Totaled 17 tackles on the year, with 16 solo stops, three sacks and six tackles for loss.
• Ranked 12th in the Patriot League in sacks.
• Tallied a season-high six tackles, two quarterback sacks and three tackles for loss during the victory over Lehigh.
• Recorded three tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss at Harvard.
• Posted two tackles with one tackle for loss in the win at Lafayette.
• Made three solo tackles at Colgate.

AS A FRESHMAN IN 2017:

• Appeared in two games as a backup linebacker.
• Saw action against Connecticut and New Hampshire.

HIGH SCHOOL:

• Played for head coach Steve Allosso at Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, Mass.
• Served as team captain during his senior season.
• Earned All-State honors as a senior.
• A two-time first team All-Western Massachusetts selection.
• Broke the school record with 14 career quarterback sacks.
• Also lettered in wrestling, posting a 49-1 record in 2016, while winning the state and Western Massachusetts titles.

PERSONAL:

• Son of Eddie and Tracy Whitley.
• Father was a member of the football and wrestling teams at Western New England College.
• Has one sister (Rae).
• Majoring in Biology.