Top Football Players Series: Defensive back, Kamauri ‘Bam’ Whitfield, TFA

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This is the sixth of a seven-part series that will take a look at the top players at each position among the Orlando area’s high school football teams with spring practices underway. Today we focus on the defensive backs:

Kamauri “Bam” Whitfield, senior, The First Academy

Whitfield, the No. 4 player in the Sentinel’s 2027 Central Florida Super60, has made an incredible turnabout from his first season at TFA to become a polished, standout defensive back who has established himself as the best cover corner in the Orlando area.

TFA coach Jeff Conaway wasn’t sure that was going to be the case with Whitfield when he was a freshman.

“Bam is special because he has had to earn it,” Conaway said. “He got real series as a sophomore. As a freshman, we were about ready to help him go somewhere else. As a sophomore we saw him turn the page and he matured in so many areas.

“He matured spiritually and got baptized and he started making life decisions that were much better. He started making better grades and doing what he’s supposed to be doing in the classroom. And he has certainly matured socially and athletically. He got serious about the weight room. … all of that mixed with the way our coaches have developed his skills, he is obviously turning a lot of heads at the collegiate level.”

Whitfield doesn’t only play defense. Conaway will also use him as a receiver and he can be a two-way threat at either position. Last season, he had 13 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack. TFA was stacked at receiver, so he was used sparingly on offense, but averaged 22 yards on the two catches he did make.

He’s fast, has tremendous reaction on the ball and his cover skills are like glue. He likes to get physical at the line, covers the run well and he will also rush the quarterback. He can play any of the five defensive back positions.

“I’ve done this for 20-something years and I don’t know that I’ve been more proud of a person who has done a complete 180,” Conaway said. “Because when you go from the coaches not really trusting in your decisions and your behavior into the team captain and No.1 recruit … I give Bam a lot of credit.

“He could have easily packed his bags, but he chose to do something about it. It took a lot of work. He was pressed by teachers and coaches. … He took it in the face and he stayed with us.”

Whitfield committed to Tennessee in October, but he reversed field and decommitted in February and remains open. He currently has 40 FBS scholarship offers. He has official visits planned for Florida, Oregon, Nebraska and Virginia Tech after the spring season.

Defensive back is probably the most loaded position in the Orlando area, so we are listing a full Top 10, alphabetically after Whitfield.

Other top Orlando defensive backs

David Coleman Jr., senior, TFA

The most impressive thing about Coleman (6-0, 170) is his ability to cloak a receiver as if he’s an extension of his opponent’s jersey. He drapes would-be receivers step-for-step in man coverage, and his instincts and break to the ball are equally impressive in zone, He, too, is a terrific tackler and is not afraid to hit. He’s mainly a cornerback, but he can drop back into the safety position, as well.

Robert “RJ” Hampton Jr., senior, Seminole

Hampton is a tad small, but he’s extremely strong, fast and athletic. He’s mostly a cornerback but he can drop back into nickel when needed. He’s a strong tackler and had 20 tackles a year ago. He also had 2 interceptions and 13 pass deflections.

Reggie Harris, senior, Jones

Harris (5-11, 180) is a big safety who loves to hit. He could probably play linebacker. He had 54 tackles a year ago for the Class 4A runner-up. He’s a bruiser and has no problem playing the run. Often lines up at the line of scrimmage in Jones’ man-to-man scheme and his bump-and-run skill throws receivers off their routes.

Octavius “Que” Lewis, junior, Edgewater

Lewis (5-10, 173) broke on the scene in a big way last season. He’s another safety who is not afraid to drop down in the box and he loves to hit. He’s a gifted tackler and had 54 tackles a year ago, as well as three interceptions. He has terrific ball skills and had 11 pass deflections a year ago.

Jaylen Lowman, junior, Winter Springs

Lowman (6-1, 160) broke on the scene in a big was this past season. He led the state in interceptions for most of the season with 10 picks, winding up second after Terrance Johnson of Plantation American Heritage got No. 11 in the playoffs. He lies back in wait at safety and reads quarterbacks quite well.

Demetre Pryor, junior, Evans

Pryor led all Orlando defensive backs in interceptions over the past two seasons. He had 7 picks while at Jones his freshman year sevenand then picked off seven more passes this past season after he transferred to Evans. Pryor just has a knack for the football and a great ability to read the quarterback. He has 42 tackles last year, as well.

Ahvioume Scott, junior, South Lake

Scott (6-0, 170) is an incredibly gifted athlete and coach Brad Lord will use his versatility to play him at any of the five defensive back spots or at linebacker, and this year he will start getting reps at receiver. He is probably the most all-around player at South Lake. Last season he had 57 tackles and six interceptions.

Charles Woodson Jr., senior, Lake Nona

Yes, that Charles Woodson (6-0, 175), the son of the former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL All-Pro, has made tremendous strides in his high school career. Like his father, he is a tremendous tackler and often drops down into the box from his safety position to attack the run. He had 73 tackles and 3 interceptions a year ago, one of which he ran back 80 yards for a touchdown in the playoffs. He’s fast and also like his father, he plays both ways and gives Lake Nona another receiver option.

An’tario Wright, senior, DeLand

He’s short (5-9, 210) and plays more like a linebacker, but the DeLand safety is gifted at defending the pass. He loves to hit and won’t hesitate to drop into the box or line up at the line of scrimmage. He’s a gifted tackler and was second for the Bulldogs in tackles with 80 last year. He also had 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, with one interception and three fumble recoveries.

Chris Hays can be found on X.com@OS_ChrisHays.

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