KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO) – During his senior year of high school, Flenard Whitfield had the difficult decision of choosing between playing college football or basketball. Whitfield was getting looks from Michigan, Florida and LSU’s football programs, and who could blame them. Whitfield’s 6’7 frame and 220 pound body were ideal for the tight end position in which he played so well for Martin Luther King High School in Detroit.

However, when it came down to it Whitfield ended up signing a letter of intent to play basketball at Western Michigan University. 

Whitfield had a successful career as a Bronco, as he finished with over 1000 points and was named to the All-MAC Honorable Mention list twice. Now that his career is over as a basketball player, Whitfield is going to give football another try. Per NCAA rules, a student-athlete is allowed to compete in another sport if they're eligibility in another sport is exhausted without utilizing a redshirt year.

"This will be an evaluation process on the part of Flenard and our coaching staff this spring," commented head football coach Bill Cubit.  "We know he is a very competitive person and taking these steps to earn a spot on this team shows that he wants to come in and help where ever and however he can.  We see this as a win-win situation."

"I am excited," said Whitfield.  "There is no part of my basketball career at Western Michigan that I would trade and I thank Coach Hawkins for everything he has done for me during my four years. I know there is a lot of work to do to begin to learn this offense and find my legs again on the football field.  I am very grateful to Coach Cubit and the entire team for this opportunity."

Whitfield will enter the spring season as a tight end wearing jersey No. 84.  All Bronco fans know him as No. 33 on the basketball court and fans of MLK HS remember him wearing No. 88.

WMU starts its spring season this Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., and will have 15 practices during the spring season culminating in the annual Brown & Gold Spring Game.