Patriots sign up Wilhite

With a crowded crop of cornerbacks on the Patriots' roster, the last thing a rookie needs is to come to training camp late. That won't be an issue for Jonathan Wilhite.

The fourth-round pick will be there next Thursday when the Patriots open training camp at Gillette Stadium. He reached a four-year deal yesterday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Wilhite is one of two cornerbacks the Patriots landed in April's draft, along with second-round pick Terrence Wheatley. Wilhite is the third Patriots draft choice to sign, joining sixth-rounder Bo Ruud and fifth-rounder Matthew Slater. With rookies asked to report Monday and training camp starting three days later, New England still must sign its first-round pick, linebacker Jerod Mayo, plus Wheatley and third-round selections Shawn Crable, a linebacker, and Kevin O'Connell, a quarterback.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound Wilhite was taken with the 129th pick. The 24-year-old played three seasons at Auburn after attending Butler County (Kan.) Community College. In 34 games (23 starts) at Auburn, he had 101 tackles, a sack, 3 interceptions, and 14 passes defended.

There is uncertainty for the Patriots at cornerback with returning right-side starter Ellis Hobbs recovering from surgeries to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and a sports hernia and the loss of Pro Bowl selection Asante Samuel and nickel back Randall Gay to free agency.

Wilhite will compete with Wheatley, second-year player Mike Richardson, and veterans Fernando Bryant, Jason Webster, and Lewis Sanders to replace Samuel and Gay.

Wilhite's agent is Jason Chayut, also the agent for former Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch. The team and Branch went through a contract dispute in 2006 that led to Branch being shipped to Seattle for a 2007 first-round pick. That pick was used to select safety/cornerback Brandon Meriweather.