Post-OSU Update: After his true junior season, Donte Whitner was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. Whitner played 157 games over 11 years, making two Pro Bowls. He recorded 923 tackles, 11 interceptions, and 11 forced fumbles. After his playing days, Whitner is working in the sports media industry with NBC Sports Bay Area. (updated: Mar. 2023)

Major: Consumer Affairs (2004), Undeclared (2003)

Weight: 205 (2005), 200 (2004), 185 (2003)

2005 Media Guide: Hard-hitting playmaker … will be in his first full year as the starter at strong safety … has played in 23 of 25 games the past two years and always comes to play … split time with Tyler Everett in the first two games of 2004, then took over as the starter and started the next five games before suffering a knee injury in the first half of the Indiana game … combined for 39 tackles in the three games immediately proceeding Indiana and was playing the best football of his career before being hurt … underwent arthroscopic surgery on the Tuesday following Indiana and missed the next game (Penn State) … returned the following week and played 11 minutes at Michigan State … sat out the next week at Purdue (where the Buckeyes were missing three of their four starters in the defensive backfield), but returned for the Michigan game and recorded four tackles, including a key 11-yard sack, in 15 minutes … had a game-high eight tackles in the Alamo Bowl … teams with free safety Nate Salley to give the Buckeyes two outstanding safeties.

2004: Played in 10 games … finished fourth on the team in tackles with a career-high 69 … his four tackles-for-loss led the team’s defensive backs … recorded a career-high 17 tackles against Wisconsin … also reached double figures against Northwestern (12) and Iowa (10) … his 24-yard interception at North Carolina State led to an OSU touchdown and a 13-0 lead just before halftime.

2004 Media Guide: Heads into fall camp ready to take over at strong safety for the departed All-American Will Allen … enrolled early at the beginning of the 2003 Winter Quarter in hopes of getting a jump on things and getting the opportunity to play as a true freshman … did just that, seeing action in all 13 games last season in a solid rookie year … picked off two passes … played nickel back and was the No. 2 strong safety behind Allen … physical player with good speed and a high level of intensity … outstanding athlete with a penchant for making big plays … biggest play of the year came in the Iowa game, when he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to give Ohio State some breathing room at 17-3 … credited with a game-high 11 tackles in the 2004 Spring Game.

2003: Logged 86 minutes of action across 13 games played … played a season-high 16 minutes against Michigan State and played at least 10 minutes in four other games, including Northwestern, Iowa, Indiana and Penn State … collected 15 solo stops and 22 total tackles, which led all reserve defensive backs … picked off his first collegiate interception late in the first half at Indiana and returned it 15 yards to set up an Ohio State touchdown … second pick came in the fourth quarter against Michigan State … had a fine showing in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Kansas State when he collected five tackles and broke up two passes … also had five tackles and a forced fumble against Michigan State and was awarded Ohio State’s Jack Tatum Hit of the Week Award by the coaching staff … had solid four-tackle effort at Michigan … broke up two other passes and forced a fumble.

High School: Considered one of the top defensive backs in the country … committed to Ohio State early and enrolled in school at the beginning of Winter Quarter (Jan. 6) so he could take part in winter conditioning and spring practice … moved to safety in the spring and is No. 2 on the depth chart … great athlete and real hitter … rated as the No. 1 overall prospect in the Midwest and the seventh-best in the nation by SuperPrep … rated as the third-best cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com … SuperPrep All-American … played in the U.S. Army Bowl over Christmas break … credited with 87 tackles and had three interceptions as a junior … 60 tackles as a senior include 10 tackles-for-loss, three picks and four forced fumbles … scored 14 touchdowns as a junior and had nine TD receptions as a senior … 13 career interceptions … recruited by all the national powerhouses … also excels in the classroom … high school coach was Ted Ginn.

Personal: Parents are Deborah and Lindsey Robinson … has one sister, Dawawn … says playing in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl is his favorite football memory to date … attended his first Ohio State football game in 2001 when the Buckeyes defeated Michigan, 26-20, in Ann Arbor … favorite pro sports team is the Philadelphia Eagles … one of his favorite OSU football traditions is singing Carmen Ohio after home games.