Since 2001, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl has showcased the nation's premier high school football talent. The level of play in these games has demanded the absolute highest levels of mental, emotional and physical strengths for those participating. The expansive and continually growing list of prominent alumni featured in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl's history stands as proof of this strength and the extraordinary level of competition. Some of the most notable All-American alumni include: Adrian Peterson, Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, 2012 #1 NFL Draft Pick Andrew Luck, Marcus Lattimore and Robert Woods among many more.
As of the start of NFL training camps, there are more than 200 U.S. Army All-American Bowl alumni on NFL rosters. During the 2012 NFL Draft, 22 U.S. Army All-Americans were selected, including six first round selections. An incredible total of 51 U.S. Army All-Americans have been selected in the past two NFL Drafts. More and more U.S. Army All-Americans enter the NFL each season as the Army All-American Bowl continues to produce some of the game’s brightest stars on its biggest stage.
2003 All-American bowl
Glenville High School | OH
- Whitner played for Ted Ginn, Sr. at Glenville, and was rated as the No. 1 prospect coming out of the Midwest as a senior. He recorded 13 interceptions in his high school career, and tallied 147 tackles in his last two seasons.
College: The Ohio State University
- It was at Ohio State where Whitner honed his abilities. He was a force against the run, but also showed he could match up one-on-one with wide receivers. He was selected First-Team All-Big Ten in his final year in Columbus, finishing with 73 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions.
NFL: San Francisco 49ers, Selected in the 2006 NFL Draft, 1st Round, 8th Overall (Buffalo Bills)
- Whitner was a consistent performer in his five-year stint with the Bills, starting 66 games. In 2009, Whitner led Buffalo’s second-ranked pass defense, posting career highs in interceptions and passes defended, while scoring his first career touchdown. Whitner followed with a 140-tackle season in 2010, earning him a three-year deal with the 49ers.
