E.J. Whitley, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back at Matthews Butler, announced Monday that he would accept a football scholarship to attend Virginia Tech.

Whitley, who is ranked the No. 20 prospect in the state by Scout.com, had narrowed his potential choices to Virginia Tech and N.C. State.

Butler coach Mike Newsome said Whitley, who will be a senior this fall, is big, strong, fast and has great knowledge of football.

Whitley runs 40 yards in 4.4 seconds.

"He stepped in for us a freshman replacing Jamar Adams [a starting safety at Michigan]," Newsome said. "We knew he was a special player then."

Butler was 12-3 in 2006 and reached the state 4-AA semifinals.