Wild-card hero Whittaker has staying power in Panthers' backfield
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Everyone knows the popular proverb of how one man's misfortune is another man's gain.
Carolina Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker is a living example of that saying.
Whittaker went from being cut by three different NFL teams over a 17-month span (Cardinals, Browns, Chargers from 2012-14) ... to becoming an integral part of the Panthers offense in 2014 and subsequently signing a two-year, $1.36 million contract in 2015.
Through hard work and perseverance, Whittaker has risen to the No. 2 spot on the Carolina depth chart -- behind Jonathan Stewart.
And it all started with something completely beyond his control -- an injury to another running back.
Whittaker, 26, was back in his home state of Texas last summer, when Panthers rookie tailback Tyler Gaffney went down with a season-ending knee injury during training camp.
Needing a quick replacement, Whittaker got the call from the Panthers' brass.
What may have been considered initially as just a throwaway phone call by the Panthers has now morphed into one that has paid off in the long run.
"The hardest thing was to stay confident," said Whittaker during the first week of team OTAs about being cut so many times in such a short period. "I just continued to have faith in God and understand that everything was going to be OK."
Had the Panthers not called Whittaker as Gaffney's replacement, unlike so many other athletes, he had a backup plan if football didn't work out.
Whittaker earned his master's degree in kinesiology -- the scientific study of human movement. He was preparing for a life in football operations.
"Whether I played in the NFL or not, I felt like I'd accomplished a lot in football," he said.
However, that life in the front office of a college program or NFL team will have to wait.
With veterans DeAngelo Williams, Mike Tolbert and Stewart never seemingly healthy at the same time, Carolina kept Whittaker out of necessity more than insurance, even though the coaching staff never thought they'd need him.
But because the injuries to Williams and Stewart lingered all season long, Whittaker got his chances. Almost immediately, he produced and caught the eye of media and fans, alike.
So much so that by the middle of the season, veteran reporters were calling for Whittaker to be the starter. Up through the first 11 games of the season, Whittaker was essentially the only effective running back in the Carolina stable.
His value really peaked during the playoffs last season, when during a tight game in the third quarter against the Cardinals, Whittaker took a simple screen pass from quarterback Cam Newton and dodged and darted his way for a 39-yard touchdown.
It would essentially clinch Carolina's first postseason victory during the Newton era.
Whittaker finished the season with 145 yards rushing and a touchdown on a very respectable 4.5 yards per carry. He also caught five passes for 60 yards and one touchdown.
"It wasn't frustrating (waiting my turn on the sidelines)," he said. "The main goal in football is two in. We all have faith in the coaches that they're going to do substitutions as they see best to help us win. ...
"Whether I get one touch or whether it's 15 touches in a game, I just want to be contribute to help us win."
This year, however, instead of just trying to make the team, Whittaker expects to be a main factor on offense. He's no longer the fourth-string running back, in danger of not being on the active roster come game day.
"There shouldn't be a drop off mentally on what to do and how to do it," says Whittaker. "Being in the (running back's) room with them last year raised my awareness and football IQ so much."
Given Stewart's injury history, there's a realistic chance Whittaker will garner starter's reps this season.
Should that happen, Whittaker will be ready. Either way, he's taking nothing for granted.
"I'm trying to approach the game the same way," says Whittaker, who totaled 531 yards (386 rushing) and seven touchdowns at the University of Texas in 2011. "On paper, things look good (for me), but we know how quickly things can change on you."
