4-Star RB Devwah Whaley Taking His Time, Finalizing Big 12, SEC Official Visits

As the nation's No. 4 running back, Devwah Whaley has a set plan for his college future.

After announcing his top five in June, Whaley said he will focus on taking two official visits during the regular season and three visits after the season. A silent commit will come before the end of the year, and a verbal commitment will come during the Under Armour All-America Game in January.

For Whaley, it's a step-by-step process, one that he wants to make sure he follows.

"At this point, I'm just taking everything day by day," said Whaley, a 6'0", 205-pound back from Beaumont, Texas. "I'm going through the process and enjoying it. I don't want to rush anything or commit too early. The main thing is that my mom and coaches aren't stressed. When I commit, I want to make sure it's the right decision for me."

The 4-star talent confirmed that Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia and Oklahoma will receive the official visits, and his early thoughts are that Oklahoma and Georgia will get the first two visits. Whaley said he'll take the Georgia visit the weekend of Sept. 18. He hasn't set a date for Oklahoma.

Whaley said both schools are places where he can see himself doing well.

"I felt like when I went on those visits, everything stood out," he said. "The coaching staff, the environment, the players...I really got a feel for everything that was important to me. You want to be comfortable wherever you go; it's got to be a home away from home, and I think Oklahoma and Georgia both were like that."

It's no secret that Whaley wants to play for a team with a run-oriented offense. He rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior and more than doubled his totals from his sophomore year (557 yards, five touchdowns). Whaley is a north-south runner who has low-4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash.

Oklahoma rushed for 261.2 yards, and Georgia rushed for 257.8 yards a game last season, which ranked them No. 11 and No. 12, respectively, among FBS teams nationally. Arkansas ranked No. 26 averaging 218 yards a game. Texas A&M (149.9 yards per game) and Texas (137.4) ranked No. 84 and No. 101, respectively.

Although running the ball is a priority, Whaley is quick to remind all that he's not a one-dimensional back. He is, however, a strong advocate for having a successful offense via an effective ground game.

"Playing football, you have to run the ball well. That's the name of the game," he said. "But a lot of schools find me to be complete back. I'm able to run and catch the ball. I like to block. I'm just a downhill type of back who plays with size and power."

Whaley showed his combo skills last month at Georgia's Dawg Night camp. In addition to running well, he also showed that he had good hands in passing situations. It was a chance for Whaley to get in some rare camp time, as he hasn't competed in many camp settings during the spring or summer.

Whaley said he will use the next few weeks to finalize his official visit schedule and also prepare for his senior year at Beaumont Central. He said he will continue to research his top five, as he prepares to make a public announcement in January—and a private announcement weeks before that.

"I know what I'm looking for," Whaley said. "Academics are important; I know I'll need something to fall back on. Being able to come in and play right away also is a big impact.

"Wherever I go, I want to win games and compete for a national title. Going to the NFL is a goal, so I want to go to the place that'll help me get there, as well as help me become a better man and football player."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles