Auburn Recruiting: Walker White Prospect Profile
The Auburn Tigers hold the commitment from one of the nation’s most intriguing quarterback recruits. The upside for this young man is tremendous.
Note: Look for several more in-depth 2024 Auburn recruiting profiles between now and National Signing Day on Dec. 20.
Walker White
Size: 6-foot-4, 220 pounds
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Little Rock (Ark.) Christian Academy
Recruitment and Background: The Feb. 3 commitment to Auburn, for White, holds multiple dividends for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers. One, it allows AU to move away from recruiting the No. 1 position on the gridiron (and all the angst that goes with it). That’s absolutely huge for the Tigers.
Two, anyone that watches White’s film knows that he possesses the big-time physical tools to one day be one of the top signal callers in the SEC. Due to that point, he’s attracting other top players to come to The Plains – like former Alabama commitment and now Auburn Pledge Perry Thompson – that may not be looking at Auburn without White in the Auburn fold.
Finally, winning White’s recruitment over schools like Ole Miss and Arkansas, among many suitors, also means Auburn will not one day line up against him on the football field.
Frame: This is a big young man. He’s already at an SEC-size that many current starters possess. Now, White can concentrate on adding more sheer muscle to his frame, more so than adding weight overall.
He’s built like a muscular NBA shooting guard, as one point of visual reference. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is another comparison for White.
Athleticism: He gallops; White’s long strides coincide with short-area quickness that’s unusual for a taller player. He hurdles a player during his senior film, and it looks natural. White also looks loose, i.e. he’s not a muscularly-stiff player. He can get low when it’s necessary and also sling-shot the football down the field with his natural throwing motion.
Deep Ball: Watching White’s film, he throws a variety of different deep balls. The bullet when he’s drilling it into a tight window; that’s the fun pass to watch but not really the most important.
That would be the over-the-top rainbow that gets past the cornerback and provides the target room to adjust to the football. There are plenty of those throws through White’s first five senior games. That leads into an important overall category.
Quarterback Savvy: Sometimes the football is best not to be thrown. Tuck it and run, or throw it away. White is beginning to show the wherewithal to make such decisions even when in harm’s way. That’s keen for a player that has yet to graduate from high school.
It also leads back to which specific type of pass to use. Level 1 (bullet), Level 2 (some arch, but also enough velocity to not get the receiver beheaded), and Level 3 (rainbow).
For whatever the reason, White usually makes good decisions on how to throw his passes. That bodes well for his football future.
Best Attribute: Making the “it” play. Sometimes that’s just bringing the football down and running for five yards. That’s okay. A plus-five yard play beats the heck out of seeing an opposing player take an interception back the other way for six.
As White grows his mental awareness and learns the Auburn playbook, five yards, in that same situation, could end up being a touchdown. It’s as simple as feeling comfortable with the passing game progressions. It takes time, and often three or four years, for signal callers to get to that point where they truly feel comfortable on each play (playing quarterback is hard!). Hard to say how long it will take for White.
When White does reach that point, however, look out!
Area To Work On: Basic mechanics; consistency with how high up he holds the football play after play. Other ever so slight adjustments can be made as well. Yes, nit-picky, but that’s the bottom line in the SEC and it’s not getting any easier.
White simply needs to hone his craft each and every day. Quarterback is a life-long learning progression. Once on The Plains, White needs to stay the course and listen to the Auburn coaches. Just give him some time. White has a chance to be a special player in an Auburn uniform.
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