Hard work and his mother’s cooking work well for Kodi Whitfield

There’s something different this summer about Los Angeles Loyola senior receiver Kodi Whitfield.

“I’m feeding him,” his mother, Dana, said.

So that explains why he’s faster, stronger and looked like the best player on the field during the 15-team Dana Hills seven-on-seven passing tournament on Saturday?

“Kodi has worked really, really hard in the off-season to fulfill his potential, and I think he is going to,” Coach Mike Christensen said.

Whitfield, 6 feet 2 and 190 pounds, is already perfect in the classroom with a 4.1 grade-point average. He has begun to fill out physically, which comes as no surprise, because his father is Bob Whitfield, a former NFL lineman who was 6 feet 5, 318 pounds.

Whitfield said he is determined to “hone in on my skills and improve in every which way I can. Some people said, ‘You’re not running track. How are you going to get faster?’ I just trained my football speed — short bursts for 40 yards.”

He has become a top college prospect, with Stanford, his father’s alma mater, leading the way in recruiting him.

Loyola started off the day with impressive wins over San Clemente and Tesoro, then lost in overtime to Long Beach Poly despite Whitfield catching a 40-yard touchdown pass on the final play to help send it into overtime.

Quarterback Nick Cotton, who started several games last season, performed well, as did defensive back Chaz Anderson, who has committed to Boise State.

Talent at receiver

Long Beach Poly has three receivers committed to Arizona State: Richard Smith, Randall Goforth and Josiah Blandin. Smith and Goforth didn’t play at Dana Hills on Saturday and the Jackrabbits still had enough talent to beat Santa Ana Mater Dei, 21-14, in the championship game.

Willie McIntyre, a reserve receiver last season, joined Blandin as the primary targets for quarterback Chaiyse Hales.

Poly also has another promising receiver in sophomore John Smith, a standout on last year’s freshman team. “If he’s not an All-American his senior year,” said Coach Raul Lara, “something’s wrong.”

Poly’s defense was led by safety David Price.

Next QB at Mater Dei

Ryan McMahon had little practice time at quarterback for Mater Dei this spring because he was starting in left field for the baseball team, but the junior looked comfortable and confident replacing Max Wittick, now at USC.

“He’s another in the long line of great quarterbacks at Mater Dei,” said Carson Coach Elijah Asante, who was scouting Mater Dei because that’s who the Colts play in their season opener this fall.

The Monarchs have two strong, physical receivers in Josh Cook and Thomas Duarte.

Win one for Chase

Huntington Beach Edison was without its starting quarterback, Chase Favreau, who’s recovering from a broken hand suffered in a skateboard accident. The Chargers still made it the semifinals at Dana Hills. Receiver Sedric Hill, a transfer from Mater Dei, should do well this fall for Edison.

Alemany triumphs

Mission Hills Alemany defeated Ventura St. Bonaventure, 32-21, to win the Pierce College tournament. Receiver-defensive back Jerico Richardson “put on a show,” Coach Dean Herrington said.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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