Spartans Looking Back to the Sunshine State for Another Tailback Who Plays Like Another White?

It doesn’t take very long when you ask members of the Spartan Nation about great players and tailbacks from the State of Florida to East Lansing to get a

It doesn’t take very long when you ask members of the Spartan Nation about great players and tailbacks from the State of Florida to East Lansing to get a response. Of course the legendary Lorenzo White comes to mind. This weekend another one will make the journey for a recruiting visit and the Spartan Nation would love to secure a commitment from this young man.

 

RB James White from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will be in East Lansing, and he is taking a long hard look at the Spartans. “I think he likes the staff for sure, MSU takes a little bit different approach in that they get to know young men as people. All of the talk isn’t just football,” according to a source close to White. Other players have shared that same sentiment as well.

 

Although White plays in the talent rich state of Florida, his abilities on the football field quickly are shown off. Even though his 40 times are usually clocked in the low 4.4 range, his running has been clocked better than that. His strong legs allow him to break tackles, and the first defender rarely brings him down.

 

White plays for legendary Florida high school coach George Smith. Smith is unquestioned as an evaluator of talent on the prep level and Smith told SpartanNation.com, “He reminds me a lot of Lorenzo White. He is built like Lorenzo was, he has that same ability.”

 

White stands at 5’8 1/2” and weighs a legit 193#. With his incredible balance and ability to catch passes, he certainly would be a great addition. What sets him apart is his willingness to pass block. 

 

In the scheme his high school runs, he is such a threat that he isn’t asked to block as much as he would be with the Spartans. Having not been asked to do it much in high school, is not a problem. He is more than willing. He likes that part of the game. Coach Smith was emphatic when talking about his ability and willingness to block, “Yeah he can do it and would be more than willing to do it. He doesn’t mind contact.”

 

Michigan State was not high on White’s list of schools until Georgia RB Storm Johnson committed to Miami of Florida. That opened up the recruiting of White who knows that the stable of running backs at MSU is certainly full of some good ones, but he isn’t afraid to compete.

 

Coach Smith’s daughter Mandy Chandler happens to be a Spartan. She works for student athlete support services and spends a lot of time working with the football players. Her husband Roger is an assistant wrestling coach.

 

James will be on campus this weekend, and with the Spartans doing their best to close out the 2010 recruiting class as soon as possible, a good weekend could make for a soon commitment. One thing is certain; White fits the high quality character of a young person that this staff is investing in. 

 

His name is White and he plays like Lorenzo White, now the Spartan Nation wants to add another star Florida running back, James!