The COVID-19 outbreak forced the sudden cancelation of the NCAA winter and spring sports seasons. In the weeks following, the Aurora University athletic department highlighted senior student-athletes. We began with the seniors from the spring who had their seasons cut short and now begin to recognize the seniors from the winter and fall sports who completed their time at AU.
 
Senior Spotlight: Devon Whittaker (Football)

Major: Sports management         Minor: Coaching

What are your plans after graduation? Graduate assistant coach for the football team while pursuing an MBA in business.

What is your most memorable/best academic experience at AU? Class with Dr. Reifurth, she understood her students really well and helped me gain a better understanding of a coach's intuition and things that they must do to create and maintain a successful team.

What is your most memorable athletic moment at AU? Even though we had a very memorable season, fall camp was some of the most fun and competitive times I've ever had with a team, it was amazing.

Other than the sport(s) you play; what other sports activity are you good at? I think I'm pretty good at a lot of sports but baseball is one that I wish I got to play on the collegiate level. A torn ACL canceled those plans but there could be a men's league in my future.

Outside of sports, what is your favorite hobby or activity? I enjoy riding my bike and having a good laugh with some good people.

What AU faculty or staff member had the greatest impact on you and why? Don Beebe, he literally changed the way I think in less than a year and further introduced me to my coaching career on a larger scale than I thought I could attain in such a short amount of time. He's opened my eyes to more than I had imagined.

What do you enjoy most and least about practice? I enjoyed just about everything about practice but as a guy who's played under some pretty rough coaches, it surprised me how relaxed we were sometimes while still being so productive.

Do you have any pregame rituals? A good foam rollout, dance session, and prayer before we go out and warm up.

What advice would you give to underclassmen at AU? Don't be afraid to be the person that just does things right and with a right mind. Not saying you'll get everything right or right on even on the first try, just give it your all and expect the results to be undeniable.

If you had to listen to one song on repeat forever, what would it be and why? I don't think I could do that honestly, but I absolutely love free bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd especially the solo.

What is something that people may not know about you but should? I'm actually an okay rapper.

If you could spend an hour each with three people (past or present), who would you choose and why? Great grandmother, Deion Sanders and Will Smith because I feel like all three of these people can give me an eternity's worth of wisdom in an hour of conversation. I also miss my great grandmother dearly and I'd love to meet both Deion and William someday.