With NFL training camps opening this week, more than two dozen newly signed spring football players are competing for spots on their team’s 53-man roster. In addition to squaring off against veteran NFL players, recently drafted rookies, and UFDA walk-ons, they could also find themselves competing against other spring stars who were successful in the NFL success last year.
In the latest installment of UFL to NFL Training Camp Watch, Detroit Lions’ cornerback and former St. Louis Battlehawks star, Nick Whiteside returns for a second season with Detroit and is already drawing rave reviews at camp.
UFL To NFL Training Camp Watch: Nick Whiteside
For the second day in a row, coach Dan Campbell spoke favorably of Whiteside in his media session. Campbell’s well-known for bestowing nicknames on his players, and Whiteside is no exception. His head coach nicknamed him “Ironsides." Asked if he had any concerns about the state of the Lions secondary after the team’s release of Terrion Arnold, and the PUP status of Pro Bowlers Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, Campbell confidently rattled off a list of the secondary player’s he’s excited about.
“No. We're fired up. Look, it's why we got (Ya-Sin) Rock back. We went and got (Roger) McCreary. We knew we'd get (Ennis Rakestraw Jr.) Rake back off injury. We drafted (Keith) Abney (ll). Certainly, (Khalil Dorsey) Dorse is back. So, (Nick Whiteside) Ironsides is back. We feel pretty good in that room with the competition and those guys between veterans, young guys and ability.”
Whiteside Creating A Stir In the “Legion of Whom”
A year ago, the Auburn Hills, MI native caused quite a sensation as one of the “Legion of Whom”, previously unknown players who memorably stepped up to shut down the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s offense in Week 7. While the network announcers scrambled to identify the practice squad players filling in for injured starters, Whiteside was on the field creating chaos as one of the stars in that game.
With his friends and family in the crowd cheering him on at Ford Field, Whiteside made the most of his opportunity that night. Activated from the practice squad only a week earlier, he took the field for the first time, logging a total of 40 snaps. Breaking up a critical end zone pass, deflecting two others, and contributing two solo tackles in the Lions’ 27-9 victory, Whiteside earned the defense's highest grade that week, an 83.9 grade from Pro Football Focus. He was also given a game ball from his coach. Asked what that experience was like by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Whiteside admitted it felt good.
"Man, I’m not really big on accomplishments and stuff like that, but it kind of feels good when you get a little bit of recognition...I feel like I still got more work to be done. I still got to get better and just continue to earn the trust of the rest of my teammates and the coaching staff just to not even show them but show myself that wasn’t a one-time thing. I feel like I can be consistent when the opportunity presents itself."
Afterwards, Campbell was asked what he saw in Whiteside that gave him the confidence to put him for that game. Referring to the comfort level he felt from Whiteside, he noted he’d made some plays during the Lions’ training camp and exhibited some moves on special teams.
“There was just more of a comfort level with a guy who’s been here and really went through a whole training camp with us. We just felt like that was the right move. It was good, man. You saw it, he stepped up and made plays for us. Did some things on special teams, too… really good, it was impressive. As a coach, that’s all you can ask for. Just go in there and compete, man. Give yourself a chance to make plays.”
Yesterday during training camp, Whiteside once again stood out among his competition. He had the best performance on the day of any of the rostered cornerbacks, batting down passes and showing up against veteran Rock Ya-Sin, and second-year player Ennis Rakestraw.
Campbell was asked earlier today about the improvement he noticed this year from Whiteside compared to a year ago.
“He's improved, and what you like about Ironsides is that when we brought him in, gave him an opportunity, he fought, made some plays, man earned the right to stay, pulled him up, needed him, did some good things for us. We get him back with us here and look, he's all about business. It's not too big for him, he's all about business and he's going to maximize everything he's got. And he looks like he wants a spot and he wants a job, that's what he looks like. I mean, I know it's day one, but he made more plays than anybody out there. So that's encouraging, it's good to see.”
Proving himself against the competition is nothing new to Whiteside. He played college football for Saginaw Valley State, a Division II school, and he's grown accustomed to having to battle throughout his career. In the NFL, his opportunity to play didn't come until the starting players went down with injuries. But when given the chance to shine, he made the most of it. A year ago, he was asked what was the most importantly lesson he learned from his time in the UFL.
"Just find a way. It doesn’t matter what situation you’re put in. I mean, you got to work your way from the bottom. That's anywhere, but it’s a lot different from the league cause in the league you have starters, you know who the starters are. Compared to the XFL, it's more like a rotation. So that kind of helped me just to be like, if somebody goes down during a game, the expectation’s the expectation – the standard’s already set. So there's no falling below the standard. So just find the way."
Whiteside is finding the way and if he continues to perform as he has, he'll be the name to watch as he moves up the Lions' depth chart.