Curtis Whitley
Encyclopedia
Curtis Wayne Whitley was an American football
center
in the National Football League
. He played six seasons for the San Diego Chargers
(1992–1994), the Carolina Panthers
(1995–1996), and the Oakland Raiders
(1997). Born in Smithfield, North Carolina
, he graduated from Smithfield-Selma High School
before attending Clemson University
. He was then selected by the Chargers in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL Draft
. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers
in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft
.
He was found dead in Texas
on May 11, 2008. He was only 39 years old. His relatives are: parents - Norman and BJ Whitley, brother - Norman, Jr., son - Curtis Wayne, Jr., and daughter - Hannah.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played six seasons for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1992–1994), the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
(1995–1996), and the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1997). Born in Smithfield, North Carolina
Smithfield, North Carolina
Smithfield is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. In 2008, the estimated population was 12,965. It is the county seat of Johnston County...
, he graduated from Smithfield-Selma High School
Smithfield-Selma High School
Smithfield-Selma High SchoolPrincipalMichael TaylorSchool typePublicLocation700 Booker Dairy Road Smithfield, North Carolina, USAFounded1969Grades9-12School colorsBlue, GoldSchool mascotSpartan...
before attending Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
. He was then selected by the Chargers in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL Draft
1992 NFL Draft
The 1992 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1992. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft...
. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft
1995 NFL Expansion Draft
The 1995 National Football League Expansion Draft was held on February 15, 1995. The two new expansion teams, the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars alternated picks from lists of unprotected players from existing franchises. Existing NFL teams made six players available, and the new...
.
He was found dead in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
on May 11, 2008. He was only 39 years old. His relatives are: parents - Norman and BJ Whitley, brother - Norman, Jr., son - Curtis Wayne, Jr., and daughter - Hannah.