Nice article on Blair White but the concluding paragraph in particular is filled with classic Caste-speak:
Blair White, an Overlooked Gem in the Draft
Cecil Lammey of Draftguys.com will help preview and analyze the draft for the Fifth Down. He and Sigmund Bloom host the podcast at FootballGuys.com.
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Every year there are players who are overlooked and undervalued in the scouting process. In our series "Where Is The Love?"Â we look at players who may be third-day picks but who, if given the opportunity, could perform like first-rounders.
Blair White â€" WR â€" Michigan State â€" 6'2" 209 lbs.
Background/Statistics
At Nouvel Catholic Central High School in Saginaw, Mich., White was a star on the football field, the basketball court and the baseball diamond. As a senior in high school, he caught 63 passes for 800 yards and 10 touchdowns while leading his team to the semifinals in the state playoffs.
Even though he was an all-around athlete, White did not receive a scholarship offer from Michigan State and had to earn his spot on the team as a walk-on in 2005.
He redshirted in 2005 and played four games in 2006, mostly on special teams. During the summer of 2007, White had back surgery, then later needed 110 stitches when he crashed through a patio door. He caught his first pass in college football against U.A.B. in 2007, and finished the day with three receptions.
He finally earned his scholarship for the 2008 season, and had greater production with an increased role. He had his first 100-yard day, against the Michigan Wolverines, and opened up the game with a 61-yard touchdown reception on a third-and-five. He finished the season as the team's leading receiver with 43 receptions, and ranked second in the Big Ten with 71.0 receiving yards per game.
White was given M.S.U.'s Biggie Munn Award, as the team's most inspirational player. He was also named honorable mention all-Big Ten by the head coaches and the media, in addition to being selected an academic all-Big Ten selection for the third straight year. White proved he could be a reliable receiver who could move the chains; 70 percent of his catches went for a first down or a touchdown in 2008.
White followed his breakout performance in 2008 with an even bigger season in 2009. The Spartans gave him a feature role in the passing game and he did not disappoint. He finished the season with 70 receptions for 990 yards and 9 touchdowns. The touchdown total gave him a tie for the lead in TD receptions in the Big Ten that season. White was also named a first-team academic all-American, the first Spartan since 1993 to earn that honor. White was selected as a first-team all-Big Ten player by the coaches and received M.S.U.'s Downtown Coaches Club Award as the most outstanding senior offensive player. In his final season with the Spartans, he was more than just a reliable receiver who could move the chains. He flourished in his bigger role, and became more of a big-play threat. One of his best games of the year was his final game for the Spartans. In the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl against Texas Tech, he finished with 6 receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Scouting Report
White was one of my favorite players to watch on the all-star road trip this year. He was a standout player in practice at the Shrine Game and showed that he is a fiery competitor. Every day he was ultra quick in and out of his breaks while showing good body control, hands and concentration. The play he made against coverage that I'll never forget happened when he slipped after turning to come back to the ball on a hook route. While on his hands and knees, he saw the pass coming in low in front of him. White pushed off from the ground and leapt forward to scoop the pass up before it hit the turf. It wowed his coaches and showed us on the sidelines that he would do whatever it takes to secure a catch.
White knows how to come back to the football and square up to his quarterback, giving him the biggest possible target. He hates to drop passes, and is a natural hands catcher. He has good ball-tracking ability on deep passes, and knows subtle moves to gain separation downfield against tight coverage. Because of his body control, he is a sharp route runner who does not give his route away before his break. White is a tough player who is not afraid to go over the middle, secure a pass and take a hit. He had a great performance at the combine and at his pro day, where he proved to scouts that he is a sub-4.5 receiver. He can help out on special teams at the next level, and is a very intelligent player who understands what a defense is trying to do.
Bottom Line
White is seen as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, but I wouldn't be shocked if he found his way into the end of the third round.
He may not blow anyone away with elite athleticism, but his
work ethic, heart and desire to be the best have impressed N.F.L. brass. If a team is looking for a
tough, smart, deceptively fast possession/slot receiver, then White could outperform many of the wideouts taken ahead of him in the 2010 draft.
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/blair-white-an-overlooked-gem-in-the-draft/Edited by: Don Wassall