Stanford wide receiver Kodi Whitfield just wants to help his team win in 2014. That is why he will be moving from a crowded wide receiver position to a position in need of depth. Whitfield is going to compete for a starting job at free safety starting this spring for the defending Pac 12 champions.
“I gave Kodi the option: the chance to compete for a starting spot at free safety or stay in the competition at receiver and still play,” Stanford head coach David Shaw said Thursday. “It was not a decision made by me. It was a decision made by Kodi. I presented both options to him.”
Shaw noted that even if Whitfield chose to stay on the offensive side of the football, he would still get some playing time. By moving to the defensive backfield though, Whitfield will have an opportunity to have more of an impact on the team.
“If he wanted to stay at receiver, he’d stay and he’d make plays for us,” Shaw said. “But he saw there’s an open spot, he’s got a chance to compete for it and he’s excited about it.”
Whitfield is ready to get started.
“I pretty much jumped on it,” Whitfield said. “I knew I could contribute right away. I feel comfortable at safety already, just grasping from high school knowledge and experience. It’s really just a good opportunity.”