Norman Whitley always believed he had the skills to play at the next level, and the former Richmond Raiders’ tailback took advantage of his opportunities this season to help East Carolina University to one of its best years.

Whitley was ECU’s leading rusher with 698 yards and scored four touchdowns. Not bad numbers for a player, who started just five of the Pirates’ 14 games.

“It was pretty good to play a complete season, and not get hurt or have to overcome any minor injuries,” Whitley said. “People were able to get an idea of what I can do, and I was able to prove a lot of people wrong. In some ways, I may have overachieved a little, and that’s what made it a special year.”

What Whitley didn’t find satisfying was the way the season ended with the Pirates losing to Kentucky in the Liberty Bowl 25-19.

ECU blew a 16-3 halftime lead, and Whitley’s fourth-quarter fumble allowed Wildcats defensive lineman Ventrell Jenkins to rumble 56 yards for the game-winning score.

“I was fighting for yards, but the guy had good placement on the ball and knocked the ball loose,” Whitley said. “Those guys on defense are out there trying to make plays like we are. When something like that happens, you don’t want to go to the sidelines, and it took me a while to get over it. But stuff like that happens. My teammates and coaches were encouraging though.”

Pirates running back coach Junior Smith believes the disappointing outcome in the bowl game will be motivation for Whitley. He feels the former Richmond standout has the tools to be an elite back.

“We didn’t utilize him much early on, but he ended up being our leading rusher,” Smith said. “It shows what type of talent he possesses. His biggest strength is his vision, and his understanding of blocking schemes. He knows how to run behind his blocks and find the right holes to run through.”

ECU began the season with a surprisingly 3-0 record, including upset wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia, and were ranked as high as 15th in the Top 25 polls.

In the Pirates’ third win, Whitley scored a 51-yard touchdown on a screen pass to break a 14-all tie in the 28-24 victory over Tulane.

In ECU’s first-loss, the following week to in-state rival N.C. State, Whitley ran for 83 yards on nine attempts, including a 42-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

“It was tough we lost the game, but it was fun to put on a good performance against an in-state school,” Whitley said. “My teammates I played with in high school and my family were in the crowd.”

The sophomore came off the bench to piled up 104 yards on 14 carries, including a 69-yard touchdown run in ECU’s 27-24 Conference-USA championship win over Tulsa.

“That was the first-time, we had ever won the (C-USA) conference championship, and it was great to contribute and help the team reach one of our goals,” Whitley said. “We got off to a strong start, and then stumbled a little. We had some injuries to some key guys during that stretch when we were losing, but we overcame them and got back on track. We were able to do something that had never been done at the school.”

Whitley had his best game in front of a national audience. Making his second start, Whitley rushed for a career-high 135 yards and a touchdown in ECU’s 13-10 overtime victory over Central Florida on a Nov. 3 Sunday night contest on ESPN.

Smith said Whitley had his best week of practice leading up to the prime-time contest.

“To me every game on TV is a money game, and I wanted to step up and have a big game,” Whitley said. “Even though, their record didn’t indicate it, UCF had a tough defense. The harder they hit me, I just kept coming back. I didn’t know until, I got on the bus how many yards, I had. I just wanted to help lead our team to victory. And to let my parents and people back at home know, I’m still capable of doing what I did in high school.”

Whitley kept tabs on Raiders this season through text messages with Richmond running back/ strength coach Nick Eddins.

He was elated and a little shocked to see Richmond reel off eight straight wins, and win the 2008 state championship after a rocky 4-3-1 start.

“I kept following those boys,” said Whitley. “Those boys kept believing in themselves when everyone was being negative towards them and calling them one of the worst teams in Richmond history. I was glad to see them overcame all that adversity and become state champs. I thought if any team would’ve done it, I felt it would’ve been the senior class I played with. But Richmond County finds a way every 10 years to pull it off.”

Smith admitted Whitley has matured from the player he monitored at Richmond when ECU was recruiting him. He says Whitley is a team-player by constantly encouraging teammates on the sidelines.

One of Whitley’s goals for next season is to rush for 1,000 yards. If the 5-foot-9, 187 pound Whitley is to become the Pirates’ primary back, Smith knows he will have to get stronger.

“With him being an under-size back, he needs to increase his strength,” Smith said. “He has had a couple injuries already in his career. There may be games next year where he may have to be counted on to tote the ball 20 or 30 times, and he doesn’t want his body to break down as the season goes along. I feel like he’s the type of player to make the necessary commitment in the weight room, and the sky is the limit for him.”