Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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liked Notre Dame and really could see myself there," White said. "I eventually said, 'Why wait?' I knew Notre Dame is where I wanted to play football. "It's a pretty good feeling," he added. "To know that you're going to go to the school that you want to be at is amazing, and to know that you're wanted at that school is amaz- ing." White committed to Notre Dame March 21, picking the Irish over of- fers from Michigan, Ohio State, LSU, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Missouri. While the plan was always to give Notre Dame a look first, he noted that he was also considering taking visits to some other schools before quickly realizing that he couldn't wait to make a decision. "Notre Dame's coaches told me that they were looking for lineback- ers, and they told me that they re- ally wanted me, and I liked that," White said. "You never know how many commits they are going to get or have, so I didn't want anyone to pass me up on the board. "Notre Dame is a national pro- gram, and I think that attracts that recruits from all over the nation. Just with the tradition and great academ- ics, it's something that's different." White, who started his career as a safety at Boca Raton High, posted a team-high 101 tackles for a St. Thomas Aquinas squad that won a Class 7A state title this past season. The number was higher than the to- tal tackles for five-star defensive end Nick Bosa and four-star linebacker Tyler Dunning — combined. Not bad for a two-star prospect that was still learning his role in the middle of the defense. "It took a couple of years for me to grow into that inside linebacker position because you have to put on so much weight," White said. "It just took me a while to get in that weight room and eat right to put on that weight. Now I have that size to play inside linebacker." White is in line to become the first prospect from the powerhouse that is St. Thomas Aquinas to sign with the Irish since wide receiver Corey Holmes in 2014. He will also become the third linebacker out of Florida in three years to sign with the Irish. ✦ FILM ANALYSIS Strengths A versatile and aggressive player that could play either the Sam or Will linebacker spots in the Irish defense … A smooth athlete with good balance and foot quickness … Changes direction with ease, which helps him excel in coverage … Displays impressive short-area quickness … Well-schooled and instinctive linebacker that plays under control and is a sound tackler … Shows good eye-discipline, reads his keys well and makes quick decisions between run or pass. Areas For Improvement At this point in his development, lacks the ideal girth or strength needed to play inside linebacker at Notre Dame … The frame and potential are there, so within a year or two of being on campus he should be able to fill out quite well … Lacks ideal speed and explosive- ness to be a true sideline-to-sideline defender, but his instincts and fluid hips allow him to disguise his weaknesses. — Bryan Driskell