North Carolina safety has offers

Butler (N.C.) Matthews safety Eddie Whitley is one of several legitimate Division I-A prospects at his school for the class of 2008. He currently has five scholarship offers and has interest in several other programs.

"Kentucky just offered me," Whitley said. "North Carolina has offered me and Duke, Louisville, Virginia have as well."

The 6-foot, 180-pounder talked about some of the programs he is interested in.

"North Carolina, I like them a lot," Whitley said. "I would like to go to Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and N.C. State, I like the new coaching staff there."

Whitley will head to Charlottesville for Virginia's Junior Day event this Saturday and will go Chapel Hill for the Tar Heels' Junior Day on March 4.

He also has trips to college campuses planned for the summer.

"I am going up to Virginia Tech on June 9 for their one-day camp and I am going to try to make it down to Auburn for their camp in July," Whitley said. "As a team, we are going to Clemson and Wake Forest 7-on-7 tournaments, so I can get a look at those schools then."

Whitley also will attend the Charlotte NIKE Combine this Sunday.

Academics head the list of important factors that Whitley will weigh when picking a program.

"The most important is the academics," he said. "I am set on a major already, even though I could change it. I really would like to major in architecture or design. That's why I am looking at the technical schools. Other than that, I need to feel comfortable where I am at. The coaching staff also will be a big factor."

Whitley says he brings a cerebral approach to playing his position.

"I think when I am at safety, I read the plays," he said. "When it's third and six I know what it's going to be, I know what's going to come and I study film during the week and I know how to make the plays."

Whitley had 105 tackles, six interceptions, 12 pass break-ups and blocked four field goals during his junior year. He was a first-team All-Conference selection.