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The best college football athletes regularly move on to the NFL and Oklahoma University quarterback Jason White is one of those players, but does he have what is needed to become NFL material?
Professional quarterbacks have one of the toughest jobs in the NFL. They are required to be incredible leaders and be able to easily read the field for changing defensive schemes. The 24 year old White has the ability to perform under pressure and the toughness needed to play at a professional level. He also has a strong passion for the game and plenty of big game experience, but his lack of success in recent championship games is a weakness.
White talked about the NFL scouting combines and said, "I would love to get an opportunity. There's no risk in those teams letting me try. But if not, I'm not going to be mad, because I've done all I can do. I can look back and honestly say that I worked as hard as I can work to get to this point. There's nothing I can go back and do better."
He dealt with a lot of injuries early in his career, including two reconstructed knees, and although he has been relatively healthy during the past two seasons his durability is a major concern to NFL scouts. White has to convince NFL scouts he is 100 percent healthy and his body won't break down. His knee injuries have robbed him of some mobility and the ability to run with the ball well. His average size (6-3, 226), speed (40-Yard: 4.75) and arm strength are concerns for many scouts. I expect him to be drafted, but not before the third round.
White was the 2003 Heisman Trophy Winner as well as the Associated Press, Sporting News and CNNSI.com College Player of the Year. Other awards include, being named consensus Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, consensus All- American, Davey O’Brien Award Winner, Sports Illustrated and Sporting News Player of the Year, and Jim Thorpe Courage Award winner. He led OU to an undefeated regular season, but they lost in the Big 12 Championship game to LSU.
In 2004, White won the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards, and was a consensus All- Big 12 and conference offensive player of the year. Once again, White led the Sooner’s to an undefeated regular season and a victory in the Big 12 Championship game over Kansas,but they lost again in the BCS Championship game, this time to USC.
White’s numbers are very impressive for the college level, 27-4 as an OU starter. During his senior season, White threw for 3,205 yards and 35 touchdowns while completing 65.4 percent of his passes.He attempted 198 consecutive passes without an interception and threw three or more touchdowns in an eight game span. The Sooner’s supporting cast provided White with excellent talent at every position and made the job of winning games a lot easier on him. His success would not have come if the Sooner defense was not what it is and they didn’t have the running game provided by Adrian Peterson.
NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper, Jr., said “His mechanics are terrible and he’s too risky because of his previous ACL injuries. As a real estate agent, he’s really rising up the board quickly after winning the Heisman. He’s motivated, smart, polished, detail-oriented, and tremendously well-spoken, with exceptional phone manner. I’d snatch him up in a heartbeat.”
Any team that drafts White will be considering him as a second or third string quarterback. He is aware of that and has taken the proper steps to set up a secondary career in real estate if football falls through.
White doesn't have the physical tools one looks for in a pro QB, but he is the type of player you hate to count out because of all his college success. Tom Brady was never prospected to be a good NFL QB, but with proper coaching and his leadership ability he turned into a Pro Bowl caliber player. White may never be a star in the NFL, but you have to think he might develop into a solid backup.
by Matt Delaney
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