Texas 2016 WR/RB Aubrey White Talks Football and Recruiting

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The life and times of Wylie East High School wide receiver/running back Aubrey White is as exciting off the field as it is on the field for recruiting diehards. The 6’1”, 190 pound, dynamic athlete is an explosive playmaker who has racked up different reported amounts of scholarship offers from top schools around the country and is being pushed hard for his verbal commitment before National Signing Day.

White’s notoriety in recruiting circles took off during his sophomore season in 2013. The Texas native rushed for 804 yards and six touchdowns on 150 carries and had 10 passes pulled in for another 108 yards with one more score starting the next level conversation. His junior season with the Raiders was cut short at the end missing three games due to a knee injury but he still posted 241 rushing yards off 57 carries with two scores and added 16 receptions for 166 yards with another touchdown.

In October 2014, White verbally committed to Kansas but circumstances changed that commitment by the summer of 2015 reopening his recruitment. Colleges continue to offer White with reported offers from teams like Arkansas, Miami, Kansas, TCU, Texas State, Alabama, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Houston, Washington, Colorado, Louisiana Tech, Boise State, Oklahoma State, Maryland, San Diego State, and Purdue, just to name a few, all putting scholarship opportunities on the table.

The Raiders have scaled back their use of White this season in hopes of keeping him fresh for a deep playoff run. Wylie East is 7-1 on the season with their star player making key contributions. When White has the ball in his hands he is quick, has great field vision and patience allowing plays to develop, but tends to run a little too up-and-down, even by his own admission.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Aubrey to talk about the Raiders season to date, how his senior campaign is shaping up, and received a candid recruiting news update about the teams pushing hard to sign him on the first Wednesday in February.

Interview

Aubrey, the Raiders are off to a great start to the season. How does the team look in your opinion as the playoffs draw near?

“We’re 7-1, 6-0 in district and in first place. We’re the No. 3 team in 5A in Texas. I think we are doing a pretty good job out there. We have a very solid team this year.”

Do you think the team will make a deep run into the playoffs?

“Yes I do. We should make a run at state. We’re getting better and better every week. We’re pushing through the lulls of practice. The coaches get us hyped for practices keeping our heads focused on improving and going after a championship. I think we are the best team to come out of the school in a while.”

You missed a little time at the end of last season with a knee injury, are you 100 percent now?

“I’m all good now.”

How is your season going for you? Are you happy with your play and growth on the field?

“I’m happy and satisfied. You can always get better and there are things I can always tune up. You can’t get content with your play on the field. I’m happy we’re winning and that is the most important thing to me.”

What did you work on in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“I worked on getting bigger. I worked on my top speed and my second gear. I studied more on my position too. I am an athlete playing running back and wide receiver so I had to work on my foot work and agility. I spent time picking up tips off different college players I know. I worked hard on developing my skill set as a receiver.”

What are your strengths on the field as a running back?

“My height is an advantage. I have good field vision and use my eye work for running lanes. I can anticipate what I want the secondary is going to do and I can see people coming from side to side. I can adjust quickly to take advantage of what the defense is giving me. I’m working on getting lower and not standing so tall when I run. I based my skills off T.J. Yeldon (Alabama – Jacksonville Jaguars). I’ve copied his skill set and model my game off how he plays.”

What are your strengths on the field as a wide receiver?

“It’s a lot of the same things. I create mismatches against defenders using my height and weight when the ball is in the air. I try to make the best play I can. I look at Tavon Austin (West Virginia – St. Louis Rams) and Stefon Diggs (Maryland – Minnesota Vikings). I try to model my skill set after those two guys. I try to work hard off the ball and work on blocks down field for the running backs. Every recruiter wants to see what you do without the ball. I picked that up off that off the Houston Texans “Hard Knocks” (HBO).”

Are you playing on special teams at all this year as a return specialist?

“Not anymore, I used to return kicks my sophomore year.”

Do you know what your stats are for this season so far?

“Honestly, no. The coaches have held me back a little this season so the stat line is not big.”

 

*recruiting content removed at request of the White family.

Have you taken your ACT or SAT yet and if so is everything squared away there?

“I have and I’m qualified.”

Aubrey, thanks for your time today and good luck the rest of the way and on the recruiting trail.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: storminnorman.com; No. 16 Aubrey White finds running room on the outside.

Photo credit: twitter.com; Aubrey White in the locker room.