What started as an invitation to walk on at Western Carolina has evolved into an all-conference collegiate career and preseason 2024 national recognition for offensive lineman Blake Whitmore.
North Carolina Football News turns its player spotlight today on the Raleigh native and former Millbrook High School standout, who has been a mainstay on the front lines for the Catamounts since 2021.
—> YOU MAY ALSO LIKE – FCS Spotlight: Elon safety tandem has All-America credentials
Whitmore will be a redshirt senior in Cullowhee this season. He’s coming off a second-team All-Southern Conference season a year ago after starting all 11 games for WCU (7-4). He also started 11 games in 2022 and five in 2021 before an injury derailed that campaign.
HERO Sports lists Whitmore as the top returning interior lineman from the SoCon and also the No. 21 returning offensive lineman in all of FCS. Sam Herder from the HERO Sports recently posted on Twitter/X that Whitmore is the best returning player to wear No. 72 in the FCS ranks.
#72 Blake Whitmore
- Position: Offensive Line
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 295
- Hometown: Raleigh
- High School (Previous School): Millbrook HS
2023 Highlights: Helped pave the way for a huge, record-setting offensive season, which saw the Catamounts pile up 5,545 yards and contend for a playoff berth until the final weekend. Whitmore also worked hard in the classroom, being named to the 2024 NFF Hampshire Honor Society and as a 2023-24 SoCon Academic Honor Roll member …
Earned third-team all-conference status from Phil Steele to go with second-team honors from SoCon coaches.
Other WCU Highlights: Started and played center for all 11 games of the 2022 campaign. Helped the Catamounts set what was then a school-record for offensive production (5,339 total yards) … Recovered a fumble at Gardner-Webb during the 2021 season…
Saw the field as a true freshman for four games in 2019 as a reserve on the line and in special teams … His debut came against Gardner-Webb on Oct. 5, 2019… Played in two games during the 2020-21 COVID season.
Earned spots on the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll three times.
High School Highlights: Played center, guard and long-snapper for Millbrook and earned all-conference as a senior … Also played baseball for the Wildcats.
Read More Western Carolina Football-Related Content
- ICYMI Week 6: Johnson C. Smith stands alone, Abell breaks Davidson record, WNC strongSuper Saturday for Charlotte metro college football teams
- What to watch for: Epic CIAA showdowns, ECU-Charlotte, No fans at WCUFour undefeated teams from NC seek to continue streak
- Mallard Creek DB Nassor Ashenafi commits to Western CarolinaSenior also had an offer from Lenoir-Rhyne
- De’Andre Tamarez Shines With Career-High 229 Receiving Yards for Western CarolinaRedshirt sophomore named FCS National Player of the Week following standout performance
- ICYMI: Long live the CIAA South! Trouble in the Triangle; Lenoir-Rhyne still the team to beatWinston-Salem State, Johnson C. Smith, Shaw, Fayetteville State serve notice to rest of CIAA