September 17, 2024 • 21 mins
On this episode of Rams Revealed, Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington talks about his time in Texas, growing up in a small town, being ready to be the next man up, and more.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hello everyone, and welcome back to RAMS Revealed. I'm your
host JB. Long and here in twenty twenty four. Rams
Revealed is presented by Sleep Number, the RAMS Sleep and
Wellness partner. We know that no one wants to be
zero to two on the young season, but here to
help us work through some of that and get our
eyes up to week three in the San Francisco forty
nine ers is rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington. Good to
sit down with you, Jordan, thanks for stopping.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
By, appreciate it. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
So it give us a sense of the facility right now.
What are some of the things your coaches, your captains
are saying and doing at the facility and the hopes
of getting this thing turned around sooner rather than later.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, so pretty much just staying on the course that
we've been on as far as far as leadership and
everybody holding each other accountable and which is all trying
to move with the same direction, same steps, and just
you know, do what we need to do handle business
and I think everything at work is so.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
About We'll get into your personal story a little bit,
but as you look back on your football career, any
parallel examples to this, like a slow start to the
sea that you were able to build off of.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, I've had a couple the people that know know
a couple of seas that Texas. They didn't go exactly
how we planned it, but we were able to you know,
prevail and towards the end of the year and make
something happening. And then last year, you know, we had
a magical year and that directly translated, I feel like
into the season that happened now and Texas is now
number one.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
You didn't wait long.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
What was that the show?
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And you already got right into it. So I'm for
the Michigan guys on the team will appreciate you dropping
that early.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
They met at me week two.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Your first official NFL catch, congratulations. The first one went
for no game, so we'll focus on the second one.
That one like your first one. But you were telling
me before we got started that you actually thought it
was the one against the Cowboys during the summer.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, so I didn't like separate preseason regular season, So
my first catch in my mind was the Cowboys one.
Like my first experience running out of tunnel for the
NFL game was that game. But I would say, the
vibe was definitely different, like when we came out of
Detroit game. Arizona was definitely a different So there's differences there.
But as far as my mind, Dallas.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Speaking of Detroit with thought, you had your first NFL touchdown,
rapping a little bit longer for that forward to that, Yeah,
you have anything special plan when you do get in
the end zone.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I don't. I just let whatever. Usually I just act
like a maniac and run around everywhere. But I'm gonna
try to come up with some type of dance or
something I need to get. I need some more sowaga, gotcha? Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Uh, Well, more unfortunate injury news here in Woodland Hills
as we start this week. First we know Puka Akua
to injury reserve. Now Cooper Cup hurt his ankle too.
You played Jordan half of the snaps against Arizona. How
prepared you feel to step into an even larger role
for a depleted receiver room.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, I feel very prepared. And I think the reason
for that is the guys we had in that room
and the guys that we do have in the room,
and uh just Cooper and Puka just how they instilled
like certain type of things and mint and mentality in me.
That just gave me the ability just to be able
to step up. And I appreciate them for that. But
you know, it really is unfortunate when you lose to
(03:00):
your leaders like that. But that's kind of how football
goes sometimes. So we got the other guys that are
still there. We just got to be able to do
what we need to do. We always like it better
when Coop is a player coach. Yeah, but he's pretty
good as a coach coach too. If that's the role
he fills for these next few weeks. What can he
still bring to the Rams? Just his mentality, you know,
everything that he learns in the game. Like I always
(03:21):
say about him, he's very like intentional and everything he does.
So when you can pick his brain and what he's learning,
what he's seeing out there, and then you get that
same look, you're able to like use it and you
really could use it to your advantage when you think
like him, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Preparing for this conversation, I read a lot about you
this morning, and I felt like your story is one
that I personally needed today. I think our audience can
benefit from it too. I think it makes the most
sense to just take it chronologically. If that's okay with you,
I don't have to go back to like the day
you were born. But like, how about small towns South Texas?
Like tell us where you're from and what life was
like in Cuero, Quero, Texas, ninety miles southeast of San Antonio.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Okay, for from Querrel, Texas small town, I think five
thousand people. It is the population. Big family. I have
like twelve siblings, and yeah, football was kind of just
seen as the way to make it out of Quarrel.
So I saw some of my family members play it
prior to me, so I fell in love with it,
and you know, I used it to my advantage. I
(04:19):
went to a great university, had a roller coaster career
with injuries and stuff like that. But I'm here now,
so I think I'm right. Well I'm supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So Austin first in La. Like, was there culture shock
along the way as you stepped into from La?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah? Yeah, there was really a shock. Yeah, so from
Querrel to Austin was a huge culture shock. When I
was in Austin during college, at some point I started
traveling a lot, so I was able to see a
lot of different cities, so coming to LA wasn't wasn't
that big of a culture shock, but the traffic was
a big shock for me.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
You mentioned your siblings. One of them played at sim
You're right, Quincy, Quincy. What's he up to now?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Uh, he's he's working in Houston right now. You know,
he's he's a bodybuilder, personal trainer, and he does some
other stuff in the oil industry. So that's my guy, man.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
And I know your your mom made it all work
at home. Tell us about her influence in your.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Just you know, when you have like a single parent household.
Just seeing how strong a woman can be as far
as taking care of you and putting you first, that's
that's a big thing for me. So that she's my angel,
she's my star. So I just I love the praise
or any time I can.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Has she seen you playing person yet.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
In the NFL game? Yet you will? Yeah? Will?
Speaker 1 (05:28):
I read that your uncle won a Super Bowl Raiders
Arthur Whittington, but unfortunately just passed the spring close with him.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Super close. That that was my guy. My dad was
really really close to him. But yeah, I would go
to Houston almost every weekend and stay to night with him,
and he was all he was just like I said,
making out a quarrel was the football route, and he
was one to go to the NFL win the Super Bowl.
So and he's a legend in my hometown. So any
type of moment could spend with him, I love to
spend it with him.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
His passing was just a few days before you got
drafted on. You think of him on draft night?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I did. We had to jersey actually on the on
the couch, like like as if he was sitting there.
So that was kind of cool experience.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
All right, So your brother played, your uncle played, and
your career started as a prep and I think those
in our audience may already know, but you set the
state championship game record with three thirty four rushing breaking
someone named Eric Dicker said for a record six total
touchdowns in that game. Before I get to Edie, like,
what role were you playing in that offense? All of them?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Yeah, pretty much just whatever they needed me to be.
But yeah, it was I think mainly receiver, but that
game I did a lot of like wildcat quarterback, so
it was it was pretty cool. Have you met ed
I listened to him give us a speech one time,
but I didn't have time to come up and actually
like meet him with stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
But I definitely was going to bring welcome gathering.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Yeah, I was going to bring up the record though.
If I would have met.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Him, that'd be a good way to introduce yourself.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Say he might he might know me. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
We'll see, we'll check him with it, We'll make that happen.
I feel like that's a good moment the Ramdoly will enjoy.
By the end of your high school career, you're like
a five star athlete right, one of the nation's top recruits.
In fact, I think I saw you a sandwich between
bo Nix and Jaden Daniels and your recruiting class, which
is kind of funny to see you all as pros
now and you commit to Texas, then Tom Herman, is
that right, okay? And stay through sark Was it a
(07:20):
clear choice, an easy choice to stay in state and
play for the Longhorns.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
It was the closest the time got But at first
I thought it was Florida Gators with me. But I
got to a point where I was like, I hadn't
left Texas prior today as far as like living in
a different city. So I just wasn't I wasn't ready
to move out of state, and I made the right decision.
It was just a gut feeling.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
You can say that now, But as I look back
on your college career, Let's take it one year at
a time. Your first college football game, your recollection.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
First time I got the ball tour or something. I
was out for that season.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
So one game and you hurt your growing and you're
out for the year as a freshman. You come back
for red shirt freshman season.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
You know, it's crazy. I think I got injured again
the same game. So game one, same quarter, and it
was within the same five yards as far as the yard.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Line like on the field. Yeah, and this time it's
a meniscus. Yikes. And then year three, you finally get
some traction and you break your classical middle of the
season against the rival Oklahoma Sooners.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Where along the path did you think about leaving football?
Like it just wasn't meant to be.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I would say the big moment, because I mean, we're humans,
so you're gonna have doubts when those injuries come. But
the big moment where I really seriously was about to
walk away was after the Oklahoma one, cause it was
just I had got a taste of how good it
could be and it just had got snatched away again.
You know. Prior to that, it was just the first game,
so it's like I didn't really get to experience it.
But when you get to actually have a good year
(08:46):
with the team and you're really heavily involved with it
and then it gets taken away again, it's like this
might be a sign I was supposed to stop. But
I kind of changed my perspective on that, and instead
of seeing it as a sign to stop, I saw
it as a sign of make my story better, and
I kept pushing through.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Jordan, who consulted with you during that other time.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, my mom, man, she she actually told me just
She's like, hey, just get your degree. If you feel
the same way after that, then we could just say
no to it. And I listened to her, and I
fell back in love with the game. Gun my degree
and everything kind of you know, started smoothing, and.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
That that's an important distinction. She wasn't like, hey, Jordan,
you got sick with football, Like it's counting on you.
I know you're gonna want this. She framed it a
different way. Did you get your degree? And good for you,
and speaking of your academic senior year, I guess so
you're still got your eligibility beyond you have a full
healthy season. You got a real chance to go pro
(09:43):
if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, you decide not to. And
I read your Player's Tribune article this morning, and if
it's okay with you, I'll like to printed out a blurb.
You know, I could read it, but I think our
audience would love to hear it in your own words.
If you can go back in time and just tell
him about where you were mentally.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, all right, So fear of failure, fear of the unknown,
fear of what happens next, truth be told. I actually
decided to skip the draft because I was afraid the
NFL might not work for me, and I was scared
about what that would mean when it came down to it.
I had to be honest with myself and realized I
wasn't ready to face the possibility that I wouldn't be
(10:21):
playing football next year and that I'd have to figure
out something else to do that. Yeah, I remember that.
I just got like a little butterflies readA that was
a real That was a real moment for me because
I was like, you know, you always when you're going
through college football, you're always told like have a backup
plan and everybody doesn't make it to the NFL and
(10:43):
all that, and you hear it and it just sounds
cliche until that moment actually presents itself and it's like, Okay,
if the football thing doesn't work out, what am I
really gonna do? And I wasn't ready to face that yet.
So I had to be honest with myself, you know.
That was that took a lot of it was it
was a pride moment. It was a it was a
(11:04):
moment where I had to be, you know, vulnerable with
myself and just talk to people and I had to
tell people to be honest with me. And yeah, I
ended up staying another year, and that next year I
made it a point of emphasis to kind of figure
out if it didn't work out, what I would do,
and just the networking opportunity there at Texas, you know,
I use that to my full advantage. I made some
(11:25):
really good friends there that last year, and now I
would have felt way more comfortable if it didn't work out.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
One of the questions you posed to yourself in that
piece is who is Jordan Whittington without football? Do you
feel like you have a better sense of the answer
to that question? Now?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Yeah, I do. I think now I see myself more
as Jordan Whittington that happens to play football, and not
Jordan Whittington the football player. So I kind of detached
myself from the sport now. I don't think I need it.
But like I said, when we've been doing it for
something for so long, like you're naturally gonna fall in
love with it. So yeah, I love the game. But do
(12:02):
I feel like I needed to survive anymore? No? I
think I'm just a great person.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
I mean a lot of those draft eligible players are
probably racing to sign the papers right to get that
next chance. I hope. I trust that there's someone out
there who's going to hear this, who read your example
and will take something from that. For sure, the way
that you modeled that for them, you know, let's need
in the front office here in LA say that you
were known as the Longhorns heartbeat during your time in Austin.
(12:27):
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
It means everything, Because I'm big on I take it
more serious when somebody else is saying something about me
than when I'm saying it about me. So just hearing
how people when they're asked about how I make them feel,
you know, and their answers and just hearing stuff like that,
it means everything to me because I'm big on relationships
and when I was at Texas that was a big
(12:49):
thing for me. I wanted to help turn the program around.
And I think a group of us, did you know,
and now you're starting to see it? Sure?
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, absolutely to get in the playoffs In terms of
the draft, though I don't sense any regret on your
part because of what you just said. But when you
do wait an extra year and then you have to
wait until day three and the sixth round to be picked,
did you have any thoughts of like, oh, I wonder
what would have happened if I had just gone in
twenty three?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Honestly know, just because I wasn't ready as a human
being either, just to be on that next level. And
it doesn't really cross my mind because I was able
to grow up more that last year, just mentally, emotionally
and stuff like that. So I don't even I don't
have any doubt any regret about it.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Longhorns are doing great now, but that was a special
group you had last year. Yeah, I mean to think
that you were fourth on the team in targets. Yeah,
look at these guys ahead of you, Worthy Mitchell Sanders,
like just between the two of us. I looked at
their numbers through two weeks. Right, I'm saying, what if
your rookie stats in the NFL actually outpace all those
guys in twenty four Hey, that'd be a pretty good story, right,
(13:55):
that'd be pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
But we're all in a group chat, so you know,
we're all really really so yeah, if that does happen,
I would be sending that in to the Goop.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
You got my scripts because this next question literally number
one team in the nation. What's the text read like
after arch Manning goes sixty seven yards on the ground.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, it was. It was a lot of fire emulgis
in there.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Yeah, you already had that in him.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
I knew he s b and people had interviewed me.
I said it on the record that arch Manning is
faster than people think, and he put it on display.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I saw a funny graphic like, you know, his entire
family trees career rushing totals in college compared to that one.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
That one sprint for him.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
It's rivalry week, and I know it's your first taste
of what the San Francisco forty nine ers in the
Los Angeles Rams are all about. But you don't have
to have played in this game to understand what a
rivalry means to exit and base in a community. Give
us a sense of some of your past rivalries at
your level of football and which I learned from them.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
I had one in high school. It was Quero versus Yoakum,
which was like super big rivalry. They just played last week.
Quero won, so that's really good. Then you got Oklahoma
in Texas and that's like, in my opinion, that's the
biggest one in college football. And that was something that
we took really serious. That week was really serious. So
I kind of know all about the rivalry games. But
(15:14):
I think the main thing is you don't want to prepare.
You don't want to do too much extra. You want
to do the same thing, but just do it harder,
to do it faster, and let the rest take care
of yourself.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
I can't wait for you to influence outcomes in this
rivalry as a probe the way that you have in
high school and college. All right, time out for a
segment we call the wind Down Jordan. It's brought to
you by a sleep number. Each week here on RAMS
Reveal will get insight into how sleep and recovery impacts
performance in the NFL. So, I wonder, over the last
year or so, has your routine changed it all from
(15:45):
college any enhancement spe it to your diet, your sleep habits,
your workout routines. As you become a professional.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
I would say I do way more at home. Like
I used to be a guy that stayed at the
facility all day. I still do, but now when I
get home, I just do extra And I would think
that that's probably the main thing I do. Like when
I'm at home, I go up there, I'll watch some film,
I'll do a lot of stuff for my body, and
then maybe I'll get on the game for like thirty minutes.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
What's your game?
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I'm a big Like, I'm a Madden guy and I
only play with the RAMS. Really, yeah, I'll put myself in.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
How are you feeling about your own Madden rating and performance?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
And can we build it that I'm like Okay, So
I do need to talk to Madden about this because
I'm like a sixty something. I get it all right,
but every time my guy gets tired, he fumbles the
ball that needs to be fixed.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Talk to him on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Yeah. So now I don't let people play me unless
we turn the fatigue off.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Turn the fatigue off, because if you.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Get my guy tired, he let it go. I don't
know what it is.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Oh, thanks to sleep Number for that edition of the
wind Down. I was thinking of your micd up moment.
Such a great line. If this only exists in my dreams.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Do not wake me up? Yep.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Perfect. So let's finish with a few rapid fire questions
and then get you to your off day. If that's okay, Jordan,
have a few more smiles before we're done. Also, from
that preseason miked up against the Cowboys. The last I heard,
the last we heard, you were learning some like NFL
uniform etiquette rules finds.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I hope yes, because I would. I did not know
you couldn't show your skin on your legs.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
But all your paychecks are still in your pocket.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Oh, I'm good. I ain't been fine, I have not
I haven't been fine. Good.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
The other tidbit is Bobby Brown came up to you
and said, watch the hair because you can be tackled.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Yep. Guess what. I don't even think people notice. One
of them got pulled out, and I think the next
time I got on the field. So he told me
that the next playoff was on the field. Somebody pulled
one of my locks out of my hair.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
But your looks your look. You're not going to change that,
are you.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I plan to cut it off in February.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Why February.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
It's just after the season. Okay, so get because then
if I do it after the season, I'll it'll be
off season. I won't be around anybody. So if I
don't like how I look, I see I don't have
seen him every day.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
But you don't get to wear your helmet around February, March,
in April.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
That would be weird. Yeah, I know, that's okay, it's
gonna it'll be. It's actually gonna be one of biggest
decisions of my life in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Interesting that you mentioned a change in your look because
the social team got you pretty good last week with
your old photos. Let's start with the six pack selfie
what needs to be said.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
I have no I have no words for that. I
don't know. I didn't even I thought I scrubbed all
that stuff.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
I think you should just like be a good sport
about it. Reprise it, like going to the locker room
taking updated one side by side.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Straight hand. That was tough.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
What about the saxophone? You got a future in music, so.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, so back to worry about that. So I wanted
to learn how to play it because I feel like
it's the most beautiful instrument out there. So I bought
one and that was me taking a picture with it
the day I bought it. And then I tried to
learn for like two months and it was too hard.
But yeah, I still own it. I'm gonna pick it
back of it sometimes at some point.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
This offseason, picking up a new instrument and having a
new haircut, I'll be a whole New Year's Resolutions twenty
twenty five. Yeah, speaking of Instagram, I saw that you
actually spent some time with Bevo on the ranch. So
here's my thing. I love the NFL. There's very few
areas in which college football is better than professional but
live mascots, I think, is one. Would you be in
(19:19):
favor of the NFL the Los Angeles Rams Live RAM
on the sideline at Sofi Stadia. There's some precedent here. Yeah,
sums up.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
I would be the Yes, I would be every pregame.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I just don't want rampage to be offended.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
See we had be vote and the hook them mask
GUIDs for both they were able to. Yeah, there's no problems,
all right.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Finally, Steve Abula is on the road to recovery. Glad
everything went well. He'll stop by here time to time,
like he's been a guest on Rams Revealed, but behind
the scenes, he's a contributor almost every week. Got His
contribution this week is that you might have a hidden talent?
Are you s.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
I can sing a little bit?
Speaker 1 (20:03):
What does a little bit mean?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
If you take me to a karaoke bar, everyone's going
to stand up and clap. If you take me to
American Idol, I might not make it past the first round.
So I'm right in the middle.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
What's your go to?
Speaker 2 (20:17):
I'm an old school I'm an old old R and
B old soul music type of guy. Maybe gospel. And
Steve is saying that because me and him do acafella.
Everything back and forth when we're in the hot tub
and cold tub. So I'll be in the cold, he'll
be in the hot, and we'll just be singing songs
in this switch. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Thanks for taking us inside the facility. That's pretty good.
He's not too big to admit that your Spanish is
better than his two Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Good you a little yeah, a little bit awesome.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Hey, it's a tough week for all of us, but
we're looking forward to getting this in the right column
sooner rather than later. I know you're coming up on
a twenty fourth birthday, is that right?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Tober first? October?
Speaker 1 (20:57):
One will circle that this happy early birthday to you.
It's great to get to know you a little bit better.
I know the RAMS audience really appreciates it. Thank you
so much for Jordan. I'm JB Long. Thank you everyone
for being with us for another episode of RAMS Revealed
each and every week, presented by Sleep Number Hope to
See a Sunday at Sofi Stadium.
Hello everyone, and welcome back to RAMS Revealed. I'm your
host JB. Long and here in twenty twenty four. Rams
Revealed is presented by Sleep Number, the RAMS Sleep and
Wellness partner. We know that no one wants to be
zero to two on the young season, but here to
help us work through some of that and get our
eyes up to week three in the San Francisco forty
nine ers is rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington. Good to
sit down with you, Jordan, thanks for stopping.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
By, appreciate it. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
So it give us a sense of the facility right now.
What are some of the things your coaches, your captains
are saying and doing at the facility and the hopes
of getting this thing turned around sooner rather than later.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, so pretty much just staying on the course that
we've been on as far as far as leadership and
everybody holding each other accountable and which is all trying
to move with the same direction, same steps, and just
you know, do what we need to do handle business
and I think everything at work is so.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
About We'll get into your personal story a little bit,
but as you look back on your football career, any
parallel examples to this, like a slow start to the
sea that you were able to build off of.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, I've had a couple the people that know know
a couple of seas that Texas. They didn't go exactly
how we planned it, but we were able to you know,
prevail and towards the end of the year and make
something happening. And then last year, you know, we had
a magical year and that directly translated, I feel like
into the season that happened now and Texas is now
number one.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
You didn't wait long.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
What was that the show?
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And you already got right into it. So I'm for
the Michigan guys on the team will appreciate you dropping
that early.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
They met at me week two.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Your first official NFL catch, congratulations. The first one went
for no game, so we'll focus on the second one.
That one like your first one. But you were telling
me before we got started that you actually thought it
was the one against the Cowboys during the summer.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, so I didn't like separate preseason regular season, So
my first catch in my mind was the Cowboys one.
Like my first experience running out of tunnel for the
NFL game was that game. But I would say, the
vibe was definitely different, like when we came out of
Detroit game. Arizona was definitely a different So there's differences there.
But as far as my mind, Dallas.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Speaking of Detroit with thought, you had your first NFL touchdown,
rapping a little bit longer for that forward to that, Yeah,
you have anything special plan when you do get in
the end zone.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I don't. I just let whatever. Usually I just act
like a maniac and run around everywhere. But I'm gonna
try to come up with some type of dance or
something I need to get. I need some more sowaga, gotcha? Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Uh, Well, more unfortunate injury news here in Woodland Hills
as we start this week. First we know Puka Akua
to injury reserve. Now Cooper Cup hurt his ankle too.
You played Jordan half of the snaps against Arizona. How
prepared you feel to step into an even larger role
for a depleted receiver room.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, I feel very prepared. And I think the reason
for that is the guys we had in that room
and the guys that we do have in the room,
and uh just Cooper and Puka just how they instilled
like certain type of things and mint and mentality in me.
That just gave me the ability just to be able
to step up. And I appreciate them for that. But
you know, it really is unfortunate when you lose to
(03:00):
your leaders like that. But that's kind of how football
goes sometimes. So we got the other guys that are
still there. We just got to be able to do
what we need to do. We always like it better
when Coop is a player coach. Yeah, but he's pretty
good as a coach coach too. If that's the role
he fills for these next few weeks. What can he
still bring to the Rams? Just his mentality, you know,
everything that he learns in the game. Like I always
(03:21):
say about him, he's very like intentional and everything he does.
So when you can pick his brain and what he's learning,
what he's seeing out there, and then you get that
same look, you're able to like use it and you
really could use it to your advantage when you think
like him, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Preparing for this conversation, I read a lot about you
this morning, and I felt like your story is one
that I personally needed today. I think our audience can
benefit from it too. I think it makes the most
sense to just take it chronologically. If that's okay with you,
I don't have to go back to like the day
you were born. But like, how about small towns South Texas?
Like tell us where you're from and what life was
like in Cuero, Quero, Texas, ninety miles southeast of San Antonio.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Okay, for from Querrel, Texas small town, I think five
thousand people. It is the population. Big family. I have
like twelve siblings, and yeah, football was kind of just
seen as the way to make it out of Quarrel.
So I saw some of my family members play it
prior to me, so I fell in love with it,
and you know, I used it to my advantage. I
(04:19):
went to a great university, had a roller coaster career
with injuries and stuff like that. But I'm here now,
so I think I'm right. Well I'm supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So Austin first in La. Like, was there culture shock
along the way as you stepped into from La?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah? Yeah, there was really a shock. Yeah, so from
Querrel to Austin was a huge culture shock. When I
was in Austin during college, at some point I started
traveling a lot, so I was able to see a
lot of different cities, so coming to LA wasn't wasn't
that big of a culture shock, but the traffic was
a big shock for me.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
You mentioned your siblings. One of them played at sim
You're right, Quincy, Quincy. What's he up to now?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Uh, he's he's working in Houston right now. You know,
he's he's a bodybuilder, personal trainer, and he does some
other stuff in the oil industry. So that's my guy, man.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
And I know your your mom made it all work
at home. Tell us about her influence in your.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Just you know, when you have like a single parent household.
Just seeing how strong a woman can be as far
as taking care of you and putting you first, that's
that's a big thing for me. So that she's my angel,
she's my star. So I just I love the praise
or any time I can.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Has she seen you playing person yet.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
In the NFL game? Yet you will? Yeah? Will?
Speaker 1 (05:28):
I read that your uncle won a Super Bowl Raiders
Arthur Whittington, but unfortunately just passed the spring close with him.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Super close. That that was my guy. My dad was
really really close to him. But yeah, I would go
to Houston almost every weekend and stay to night with him,
and he was all he was just like I said,
making out a quarrel was the football route, and he
was one to go to the NFL win the Super Bowl.
So and he's a legend in my hometown. So any
type of moment could spend with him, I love to
spend it with him.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
His passing was just a few days before you got
drafted on. You think of him on draft night?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I did. We had to jersey actually on the on
the couch, like like as if he was sitting there.
So that was kind of cool experience.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
All right, So your brother played, your uncle played, and
your career started as a prep and I think those
in our audience may already know, but you set the
state championship game record with three thirty four rushing breaking
someone named Eric Dicker said for a record six total
touchdowns in that game. Before I get to Edie, like,
what role were you playing in that offense? All of them?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Yeah, pretty much just whatever they needed me to be.
But yeah, it was I think mainly receiver, but that
game I did a lot of like wildcat quarterback, so
it was it was pretty cool. Have you met ed
I listened to him give us a speech one time,
but I didn't have time to come up and actually
like meet him with stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
But I definitely was going to bring welcome gathering.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Yeah, I was going to bring up the record though.
If I would have met.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Him, that'd be a good way to introduce yourself.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Say he might he might know me. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
We'll see, we'll check him with it, We'll make that happen.
I feel like that's a good moment the Ramdoly will enjoy.
By the end of your high school career, you're like
a five star athlete right, one of the nation's top recruits.
In fact, I think I saw you a sandwich between
bo Nix and Jaden Daniels and your recruiting class, which
is kind of funny to see you all as pros
now and you commit to Texas, then Tom Herman, is
that right, okay? And stay through sark Was it a
(07:20):
clear choice, an easy choice to stay in state and
play for the Longhorns.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
It was the closest the time got But at first
I thought it was Florida Gators with me. But I
got to a point where I was like, I hadn't
left Texas prior today as far as like living in
a different city. So I just wasn't I wasn't ready
to move out of state, and I made the right decision.
It was just a gut feeling.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
You can say that now, But as I look back
on your college career, Let's take it one year at
a time. Your first college football game, your recollection.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
First time I got the ball tour or something. I
was out for that season.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
So one game and you hurt your growing and you're
out for the year as a freshman. You come back
for red shirt freshman season.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
You know, it's crazy. I think I got injured again
the same game. So game one, same quarter, and it
was within the same five yards as far as the yard.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Line like on the field. Yeah, and this time it's
a meniscus. Yikes. And then year three, you finally get
some traction and you break your classical middle of the
season against the rival Oklahoma Sooners.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Where along the path did you think about leaving football?
Like it just wasn't meant to be.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I would say the big moment, because I mean, we're humans,
so you're gonna have doubts when those injuries come. But
the big moment where I really seriously was about to
walk away was after the Oklahoma one, cause it was
just I had got a taste of how good it
could be and it just had got snatched away again.
You know. Prior to that, it was just the first game,
so it's like I didn't really get to experience it.
But when you get to actually have a good year
(08:46):
with the team and you're really heavily involved with it
and then it gets taken away again, it's like this
might be a sign I was supposed to stop. But
I kind of changed my perspective on that, and instead
of seeing it as a sign to stop, I saw
it as a sign of make my story better, and
I kept pushing through.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Jordan, who consulted with you during that other time.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, my mom, man, she she actually told me just
She's like, hey, just get your degree. If you feel
the same way after that, then we could just say
no to it. And I listened to her, and I
fell back in love with the game. Gun my degree
and everything kind of you know, started smoothing, and.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
That that's an important distinction. She wasn't like, hey, Jordan,
you got sick with football, Like it's counting on you.
I know you're gonna want this. She framed it a
different way. Did you get your degree? And good for you,
and speaking of your academic senior year, I guess so
you're still got your eligibility beyond you have a full
healthy season. You got a real chance to go pro
(09:43):
if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, you decide not to. And
I read your Player's Tribune article this morning, and if
it's okay with you, I'll like to printed out a blurb.
You know, I could read it, but I think our
audience would love to hear it in your own words.
If you can go back in time and just tell
him about where you were mentally.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, all right, So fear of failure, fear of the unknown,
fear of what happens next, truth be told. I actually
decided to skip the draft because I was afraid the
NFL might not work for me, and I was scared
about what that would mean when it came down to it.
I had to be honest with myself and realized I
wasn't ready to face the possibility that I wouldn't be
(10:21):
playing football next year and that I'd have to figure
out something else to do that. Yeah, I remember that.
I just got like a little butterflies readA that was
a real That was a real moment for me because
I was like, you know, you always when you're going
through college football, you're always told like have a backup
plan and everybody doesn't make it to the NFL and
(10:43):
all that, and you hear it and it just sounds
cliche until that moment actually presents itself and it's like, Okay,
if the football thing doesn't work out, what am I
really gonna do? And I wasn't ready to face that yet.
So I had to be honest with myself, you know.
That was that took a lot of it was it
was a pride moment. It was a it was a
(11:04):
moment where I had to be, you know, vulnerable with
myself and just talk to people and I had to
tell people to be honest with me. And yeah, I
ended up staying another year, and that next year I
made it a point of emphasis to kind of figure
out if it didn't work out, what I would do,
and just the networking opportunity there at Texas, you know,
I use that to my full advantage. I made some
(11:25):
really good friends there that last year, and now I
would have felt way more comfortable if it didn't work out.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
One of the questions you posed to yourself in that
piece is who is Jordan Whittington without football? Do you
feel like you have a better sense of the answer
to that question? Now?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Yeah, I do. I think now I see myself more
as Jordan Whittington that happens to play football, and not
Jordan Whittington the football player. So I kind of detached
myself from the sport now. I don't think I need it.
But like I said, when we've been doing it for
something for so long, like you're naturally gonna fall in
love with it. So yeah, I love the game. But do
(12:02):
I feel like I needed to survive anymore? No? I
think I'm just a great person.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
I mean a lot of those draft eligible players are
probably racing to sign the papers right to get that
next chance. I hope. I trust that there's someone out
there who's going to hear this, who read your example
and will take something from that. For sure, the way
that you modeled that for them, you know, let's need
in the front office here in LA say that you
were known as the Longhorns heartbeat during your time in Austin.
(12:27):
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
It means everything, Because I'm big on I take it
more serious when somebody else is saying something about me
than when I'm saying it about me. So just hearing
how people when they're asked about how I make them feel,
you know, and their answers and just hearing stuff like that,
it means everything to me because I'm big on relationships
and when I was at Texas that was a big
(12:49):
thing for me. I wanted to help turn the program around.
And I think a group of us, did you know,
and now you're starting to see it? Sure?
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, absolutely to get in the playoffs In terms of
the draft, though I don't sense any regret on your
part because of what you just said. But when you
do wait an extra year and then you have to
wait until day three and the sixth round to be picked,
did you have any thoughts of like, oh, I wonder
what would have happened if I had just gone in
twenty three?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Honestly know, just because I wasn't ready as a human
being either, just to be on that next level. And
it doesn't really cross my mind because I was able
to grow up more that last year, just mentally, emotionally
and stuff like that. So I don't even I don't
have any doubt any regret about it.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Longhorns are doing great now, but that was a special
group you had last year. Yeah, I mean to think
that you were fourth on the team in targets. Yeah,
look at these guys ahead of you, Worthy Mitchell Sanders,
like just between the two of us. I looked at
their numbers through two weeks. Right, I'm saying, what if
your rookie stats in the NFL actually outpace all those
guys in twenty four Hey, that'd be a pretty good story, right,
(13:55):
that'd be pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
But we're all in a group chat, so you know,
we're all really really so yeah, if that does happen,
I would be sending that in to the Goop.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
You got my scripts because this next question literally number
one team in the nation. What's the text read like
after arch Manning goes sixty seven yards on the ground.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, it was. It was a lot of fire emulgis
in there.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Yeah, you already had that in him.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
I knew he s b and people had interviewed me.
I said it on the record that arch Manning is
faster than people think, and he put it on display.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I saw a funny graphic like, you know, his entire
family trees career rushing totals in college compared to that one.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
That one sprint for him.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
It's rivalry week, and I know it's your first taste
of what the San Francisco forty nine ers in the
Los Angeles Rams are all about. But you don't have
to have played in this game to understand what a
rivalry means to exit and base in a community. Give
us a sense of some of your past rivalries at
your level of football and which I learned from them.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
I had one in high school. It was Quero versus Yoakum,
which was like super big rivalry. They just played last week.
Quero won, so that's really good. Then you got Oklahoma
in Texas and that's like, in my opinion, that's the
biggest one in college football. And that was something that
we took really serious. That week was really serious. So
I kind of know all about the rivalry games. But
(15:14):
I think the main thing is you don't want to prepare.
You don't want to do too much extra. You want
to do the same thing, but just do it harder,
to do it faster, and let the rest take care
of yourself.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
I can't wait for you to influence outcomes in this
rivalry as a probe the way that you have in
high school and college. All right, time out for a
segment we call the wind Down Jordan. It's brought to
you by a sleep number. Each week here on RAMS
Reveal will get insight into how sleep and recovery impacts
performance in the NFL. So, I wonder, over the last
year or so, has your routine changed it all from
(15:45):
college any enhancement spe it to your diet, your sleep habits,
your workout routines. As you become a professional.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
I would say I do way more at home. Like
I used to be a guy that stayed at the
facility all day. I still do, but now when I
get home, I just do extra And I would think
that that's probably the main thing I do. Like when
I'm at home, I go up there, I'll watch some film,
I'll do a lot of stuff for my body, and
then maybe I'll get on the game for like thirty minutes.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
What's your game?
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I'm a big Like, I'm a Madden guy and I
only play with the RAMS. Really, yeah, I'll put myself in.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
How are you feeling about your own Madden rating and performance?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
And can we build it that I'm like Okay, So
I do need to talk to Madden about this because
I'm like a sixty something. I get it all right,
but every time my guy gets tired, he fumbles the
ball that needs to be fixed.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Talk to him on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Yeah. So now I don't let people play me unless
we turn the fatigue off.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Turn the fatigue off, because if you.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Get my guy tired, he let it go. I don't
know what it is.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Oh, thanks to sleep Number for that edition of the
wind Down. I was thinking of your micd up moment.
Such a great line. If this only exists in my dreams.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Do not wake me up? Yep.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Perfect. So let's finish with a few rapid fire questions
and then get you to your off day. If that's okay, Jordan,
have a few more smiles before we're done. Also, from
that preseason miked up against the Cowboys. The last I heard,
the last we heard, you were learning some like NFL
uniform etiquette rules finds.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I hope yes, because I would. I did not know
you couldn't show your skin on your legs.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
But all your paychecks are still in your pocket.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Oh, I'm good. I ain't been fine, I have not
I haven't been fine. Good.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
The other tidbit is Bobby Brown came up to you
and said, watch the hair because you can be tackled.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Yep. Guess what. I don't even think people notice. One
of them got pulled out, and I think the next
time I got on the field. So he told me
that the next playoff was on the field. Somebody pulled
one of my locks out of my hair.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
But your looks your look. You're not going to change that,
are you.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I plan to cut it off in February.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Why February.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
It's just after the season. Okay, so get because then
if I do it after the season, I'll it'll be
off season. I won't be around anybody. So if I
don't like how I look, I see I don't have
seen him every day.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
But you don't get to wear your helmet around February, March,
in April.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
That would be weird. Yeah, I know, that's okay, it's
gonna it'll be. It's actually gonna be one of biggest
decisions of my life in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Interesting that you mentioned a change in your look because
the social team got you pretty good last week with
your old photos. Let's start with the six pack selfie
what needs to be said.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
I have no I have no words for that. I
don't know. I didn't even I thought I scrubbed all
that stuff.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
I think you should just like be a good sport
about it. Reprise it, like going to the locker room
taking updated one side by side.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Straight hand. That was tough.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
What about the saxophone? You got a future in music, so.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, so back to worry about that. So I wanted
to learn how to play it because I feel like
it's the most beautiful instrument out there. So I bought
one and that was me taking a picture with it
the day I bought it. And then I tried to
learn for like two months and it was too hard.
But yeah, I still own it. I'm gonna pick it
back of it sometimes at some point.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
This offseason, picking up a new instrument and having a
new haircut, I'll be a whole New Year's Resolutions twenty
twenty five. Yeah, speaking of Instagram, I saw that you
actually spent some time with Bevo on the ranch. So
here's my thing. I love the NFL. There's very few
areas in which college football is better than professional but
live mascots, I think, is one. Would you be in
(19:19):
favor of the NFL the Los Angeles Rams Live RAM
on the sideline at Sofi Stadia. There's some precedent here. Yeah,
sums up.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
I would be the Yes, I would be every pregame.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I just don't want rampage to be offended.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
See we had be vote and the hook them mask
GUIDs for both they were able to. Yeah, there's no problems,
all right.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Finally, Steve Abula is on the road to recovery. Glad
everything went well. He'll stop by here time to time,
like he's been a guest on Rams Revealed, but behind
the scenes, he's a contributor almost every week. Got His
contribution this week is that you might have a hidden talent?
Are you s.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
I can sing a little bit?
Speaker 1 (20:03):
What does a little bit mean?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
If you take me to a karaoke bar, everyone's going
to stand up and clap. If you take me to
American Idol, I might not make it past the first round.
So I'm right in the middle.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
What's your go to?
Speaker 2 (20:17):
I'm an old school I'm an old old R and
B old soul music type of guy. Maybe gospel. And
Steve is saying that because me and him do acafella.
Everything back and forth when we're in the hot tub
and cold tub. So I'll be in the cold, he'll
be in the hot, and we'll just be singing songs
in this switch. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Thanks for taking us inside the facility. That's pretty good.
He's not too big to admit that your Spanish is
better than his two Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Good you a little yeah, a little bit awesome.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Hey, it's a tough week for all of us, but
we're looking forward to getting this in the right column
sooner rather than later. I know you're coming up on
a twenty fourth birthday, is that right?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Tober first? October?
Speaker 1 (20:57):
One will circle that this happy early birthday to you.
It's great to get to know you a little bit better.
I know the RAMS audience really appreciates it. Thank you
so much for Jordan. I'm JB Long. Thank you everyone
for being with us for another episode of RAMS Revealed
each and every week, presented by Sleep Number Hope to
See a Sunday at Sofi Stadium.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!