White Strives to Uphold TCU Standard
10/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Jay Hinton
TCU Athletics Media Relations
As a redshirt in 2010, White saw the Frogs go 13-0, win the Mountain West Conference championship, beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl and finish the year ranked second in the nation.
Although he never played a down, White has a ring to remind him of what he learned from his teammates to make him the player he is today.
"It is probably one of the best experiences of my life," said White, a native of Baltimore who moved to Round Rock, Texas, when he was eight. "It was fun and it was a learning experience as well, having the older guys around like Andy (Dalton), Jeremy (Kerley) and Jason (Teague). There were a bunch of guys that had played here a long time and knew what it took to win."
The little things: work hard in practice and in the weight room; study film and take care of your body in the training room.
All those things, White said, are now paying off.
"You have to put in the time," he said. "It's not going to happen over night and it's not going to be easy and you're going to have times when it's rough."
White played in 12 games his redshirt freshman year (three starts), and the following year he played in 13 games and made 12 starts. He tallied 37 tackles (27 solo), eight pass break-ups and an interception.
As a junior, playing opposite NFL first-round draft pick and first-team All-American Jason Verrett, White was an honorable-mention All-Big 12 selection. He started all 12 games and led the Frogs with three fumble recoveries and was second with three interceptions and eight pass breakups.
"It was tough at first because he was such a great player," White said of his time playing with Verrett. "A lot of times I found myself being the one being picked on and being the one thrown at. It was a blessing playing with him because it made me a better player. I knew I had to elevate my game just so I wouldn't be the guy that they picked on."
He finished the year with 40 tackles and allowed just one touchdown pass thrown to his side.
"He (Verrett) taught me a lot as far as work ethic and watching film and doing the little things," White said. "He is the perfect example of doing the little things right."
In 2014, White has started all six contests for the 10th-ranked Frogs (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) and has 21 tackles (one for loss), six pass deflections, four pass break-ups and two interceptions.
In his final year, he has also taken it upon himself to tutor the younger defensive backs like he was early in his career.
"All the guys in the past did the same for me. When I had my struggles and when I had my doubts they always came through for me so I feel like it's my job also to help the younger guys.
"If they don't understand something or they are struggling with something, it's up to me to help them get through it and share any knowledge I have with them."
And, he said, it's his responsibility.
"I want to leave my legacy for the corners like Jason Teague, Greg McCoy and Jason Verrett, and that we have a standard here at TCU and that we play at a high level."
