#6 Charlie Whitehurst | QB

The Chargers pride themselves on having one of the deepest rosters in the NFL, and they believe the quarterback position is a particularly strong one. Charlie Whitehurst, a third-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, enters his third professional season in 2008.

 

On gameday, Whitehurst enjoys an important role. When the Chargers are on offense, he stands next to Head Coach Norv Turner, who calls the offensive plays for the Bolts. Turner gives the play to Whitehurst, who then radios it in to Philip Rivers through the communication system in Rivers’ helmet.

 

An honor roll student throughout his college career at Clemson, Charlie earned his degree in marketing in December 2004, a full year before his eligibility expired. Charlie left the Clemson, South Carolina campus as the AtlanticCoast Conference’s third all-time leading passer. One of the players who ranked ahead of him was Rivers, who spent his collegiate career at North CarolinaState.

 

Charlie’s dad, David, was also an NFL quarterback. He played for the Green Bay Packers from 1976-83. When the Chargers played at Lambeau Field last September, the Packers were hosting the team’s annual alumni weekend. Whitehurst’s entire family made the trip to Northern Wisconsin to take part in the festivities and watch the Bolts.

 

Charlie is not the only former Clemson Tiger in the family. His sister, Carrie also attended Clemson on an athletic scholarship. She played forward on the Lady Tigers basketball team.

 
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Third-round draft choice (81) by San Diego, April 29, 2006.

2008: Inactive Weeks 1-15.

2007: Inactive for all 16 regular season games and all three playoff contests as team’s third quarterback.

2006: Did not play Weeks 1, 3-4...took over for Philip Rivers late in fourth quarter of Tennessee game Sept. 17 and scored first-career NFL touchdown on 14-yard run...played one series against Titans and did not attempt any passes...closed out S.F. game Oct. 15 with kneel down on final play of game...inactive as third quarterback Weeks 6-16 and for playoff game vs. New England.

COLLEGE: Second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference as senior in 2005 after posting nation’s fifth-highest completion percentage…led Clemson to victory over Colorado in 2005 Champs Sports Bowl in final game…finished career with 25 wins as starter, second-most in school history behind Rodney Williams’ 32 from 1985-88…eight fourth-quarter comeback wins during career...seven career wins over top-25 teams, tying school career record with Williams...included three wins over top-10 teams…only second quarterback in school history to beat two top-10 teams in single season…four of 25 career wins as starter were against in-state rival South Carolina…only quarterback in 103-game history of series to post 4-0 record as the starter against Gamecocks…only quarterback in ACC history with multiple starts and winning record against Florida State…went 2-1 against Seminoles, including 16-point win in 2003 and 21-point Senior Day win in 2005…FSU was ranked No. 3 prior to 2003 meeting, giving Tigers win against highest ranked team in school history…led fourth-quarter comeback win at Miami in 2004…was only ’Canes third loss in 176 games since 1985 when entering fourth quarter with lead…graduated from Clemson with 46 school records, including career passing yardage, career completions, career touchdowns passes, career completion percentage and career 300-yard passing games…among career highlights was win over No. 6 ranked Tennessee at 2003 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in which he was named ESPN/Capital One Player of Game…passed for school-record 420 yards and four touchdowns in first-career start at Duke…played at Clemson from 2001-05… redshirted in 2001…graduated with degree in marketing.

PERSONAL: Born Aug. 6, 1982 in Green Bay, Wisconsin…highly decorated quarterback at Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta, Georgia…also lettered in baseball as outfielder and first baseman.