 "Photo: L.G. Patterson/The Associated Press")
When you type “Fozzy Whittaker” into Google, the first suggested search is “Fozzy Whittaker injury.”
Not exactly what a tailback at Texas wants to be remembered for, but it’s obvious what reputation the sophomore tailback has earned. And he knows it.
“It kind of seemed like I was always the injury-prone guy that wouldn’t be able to help the team,” Whittaker said. “I just had to fight all the criticism and continue to work hard. I can’t let that get me down.”
And for the record, he’d like to make it known that it’s been a string of bad luck that has hampered his start at Texas, not any chronic injury problems.
But that’s how Longhorn fans came to know Whittaker: as the lightning-quick back with worlds of potential who couldn’t stay off the injury list.
At Pearland High School in Houston, Whittaker never suffered anything more serious than a sprained ankle, but once he got to Texas, it was one injury after another.
After redshirting his freshman season, Whittaker created much buzz about being the Jamaal Charles’ replacement in 2008 after a strong spring game. But those hopes were derailed by a right-knee injury that cost him six games.
The same situation played out this preseason. Whittaker looked to be the favorite again, but a helmet to the left leg in fall two-a-days that affected his hamstring and calf once again sidelined him for Texas’ first three games.
Throughout it all, Whittaker maintained a positive attitude.
“I don’t think anyone will notice when Fozzy is down,” said fellow tailback Cody Johnson. “He can hide his emotions real well, and to be honest, when you have players that can help you each other, you don’t have to worry about being emotional.”
Whittaker leaned on his teammates throughout his injury struggles, but most of his support came from his mother, Gloria. They have an even closer relationship than most mothers and sons. Gloria became a single parent when Fozzy’s father, Foster, died from lung cancer when Fozzy was just 3 years old. She raised Fozzy and his two older brothers by herself.
“She took care of all three of us as a single parent. To see her work the way that she did and give up the things she did just makes me want to repay her and love her that much more,” Fozzy said. “It is part of my strength. I do everything in the name of my mother.”
Fozzy has vague memories of his father holding him as a young child but carries his name with him. Well, at least half of it. Fozzy got his first name, Foswhitt, after a disagreement between his parents. Foster wanted to name him Foster Jr.; Gloria didn’t.
The compromise? Take the first part of Foster and Whittaker and you get Foswhitt. Whenever Fozzy makes a big play, he points to the sky in honor of his father.
And he’s had more opportunities to do that this season after finally getting healthy. His first big moment came against UTEP on a 14-yard touchdown run in which he dove over the pylon for the score.
He’s started Texas’ last three games and is third on the team in rushing yards with 172.
But just because he’s “100 percent” healthy for the first time in a long time doesn’t mean he can rest easy. This week, Texas announced that Johnson would get the starting nod against Central Florida, although Whittaker is listed as a co-starter.
No matter who trots out on the field first, the Longhorns will use both because of their different skills. Johnson, at 5 feet 10 inches and 250 pounds, provides the power running game, while Whittaker, at 5 feet 10 inches and 195 pounds, is one of Texas’ most explosive backs.
“They’re as opposite as two guys can possibly be,” said Texas coach Mack Brown.
“They’re really a good one-two punch.”
Whittaker welcomes the challenge.
“I can’t let things discourage me or I’ll just get ran right out of this place,” Whittaker said. “I came to Texas for the competition, and that’s what I look forward to having.”
It doesn’t hurt that he’s sharing time with one of his best friends in Johnson, who helped him through his injuries.
“We stayed with him,” Johnson said. “Everyday we tell him, ‘You’re going to be back.’ Fozzy’s a strong person. He knows what he has to do to get back on the field.”
That’s where he hopes to stay. There, he can shake his unflattering reputation.
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