Whiteside No. 146 by ESPNU

Cecil Whiteside longed to be one of the top football players in Orange County.

The incoming senior linebacker at Newport Harbor High is now one of the best in the country.

ESPNU ranked Whiteside 146 out of 150 seniors in the nation. Whiteside is the lone player from Orange County on the list and one of 17 players from California.

Whiteside, listed at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds, has verbally committed to play at UC Berkeley.

Last month, Whiteside was one of 64 players selected to participate at the ESPN Rise Champion Gridiron Kings at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

Whiteside earned many honors as a junior, from first-team All-Sunset League, to second-team multi-purpose CalHiSports.com All-State Underclass Football Team for juniors, to the Newport-Mesa Dream Team Defensive Player of the Year.

Last year, Whiteside recorded 55 tackles and led the Sailors with six sacks, eight hurries and two blocked punts.

As a wide receiver, Whiteside finished with 33 catches for 429 yards and seven touchdowns.

Look for Whiteside when Newport Harbor scrimmages at Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks on Sept. 4.

The Sailors open the season at Aliso Niguel on Sept. 11.

— From staff reports