Nick Whiteside

Nick Whiteside II (born May 1, 2000) is an American football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals and signed with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

Early life and high school
Whiteside was born on May 1, 2000, in Auburn Hills, Michigan. He attended Avondale High School in Auburn Hills and played three sports: football, basketball and track. He won the OAA Scholar Athlete Award and was chosen to his football conference's all-league team. He committed to play college football for the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals.

College career
As a true freshman at Saginaw Valley State University in 2018, Whiteside played in all 11 games and recorded 15 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception. He then received honorable mention All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) honors in 2019 while posting 46 tackles, nine pass breakups and five interceptions in 11 games.

After no season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Whiteside appeared in all 11 games for the Cardinals in 2021 and had 40 tackles, eight pass breakups and four interceptions. He was selected first-team All-GLIAC, the GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year and was selected second-team Division II All-American. Whiteside suffered a torn Achilles tendon at the end of the 2021 season but returned in time for 2022 and appeared in 10 games, recording 30 tackles and two interceptions while repeating as an All-American. However, he suffered a broken foot prior to the final game of the season. He declared for the 2023 NFL draft, finishing his collegiate career with 131 tackles, 26 pass breakups and 12 interceptions in 43 games played.

Professional career
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Whiteside was signed by the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent. He was released at the final roster cuts and then re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for the team's Week 17 game against the San Francisco 49ers and made his NFL debut in the 27–10 loss. He was signed to the active roster on January 5, 2024.