:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16813551/pat-white.0.jpg)
Pat White, 6'0", 190 lbs
West Virginia, Quarterback
1st Season with the Redskins
Key Career Stats:
WVU Career 2005 - 2008: 507 - 783, 6,049 Pass Yards, 56 TD's, 23 Int's, 64.8% Comp., 684 Rush Att's, 4,480 Yards, 47 TD's
2nd Round Pick in 2009 (44th Overall by MIA)
Free Agent Signed by WAS in 2013
Twitter Handle: @P5White - "Life is always worth living! Manage @seemr88 / #4xBowl + #SeniorBowl = 5 / Alchemist"
Combine Results: 4.55 40 yd dash, 35" vertical jump
Career Summary:
White was a highly sought-after football and baseball prospect coming out of high school, and was drafted by Kansas City in 2004 as an outfielder. He passed on guaranteed money with the Royals and elected to attend West Virginia to play football. White's college football career was nothing short of outstanding. Here are some highlights:
Pat White College Highlights (via TheGoldNBlue)
Until Geno Smith came along later, White was largely considered West Virginia's best quarterback of all-time. During his four year stint in Morgantown, he was named the Big East Offensive player of the year twice (his sophomore and junior seasons). He was also first-team All Big East his last three seasons and finished in the top seven for Heisman voting in his last two seasons.
He was drafted in the second round by the Dolphins in 2009, who had plans to use him as a Wildcat threat. His rookie year, he completed zero passes on five attempts and rushed 21 times for 81 yards. His season came to a crashing halt in his thirteenth game on this play:
Pat White Injured by Ike Taylor in Dolphins vs Steelers (via LorenHall11)
He never returned to the football field after that injury and was part of a lawsuit against the NFL for the concussion he suffered. In January of 2013, he signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins, but decided shortly after he wanted to try his hand at football again. After working for months to get back in shape and being pursued by several teams, he elected to sign with the Redskins.
What is coming in 2013:
On Tuesday, July 22, a little before noon Eastern Standard Time, a loud "D'oh!" could be heard bellowing though the Route 28 corridor from Ashburn, VA, as White no doubt reacted to the news that Robert Griffin III had been cleared to play by his doctors two days before the start of training camp.
There is little question that White was brought in to take some preseason snaps in the read option offense for Griffin, who most believed would still be on the mend. When he initially signed on with the team, he told the media he was coming in to play quarterback and stressed that fact. However, reports from several onlookers stated that White's performance in the OTA's this offseason was sometimes shaky. He was noted as having several high throws early on but reportedly got better as the OTA's progressed. Even with the improvement shown, he had recently changed his tune and said he would be happy to help the team in any role possible.
White will now have to show that he can help the team in more ways than just being the third string quarterback. If he is able to display the ability to use his speed and arm as a dual threat, and in particular in the read option offense, he may have a chance to stick around. Watching game film of him at West Virginia, it appears he could have the talent to fill the "Slash" roll that the Redskins attempted several times with Brandon Banks in 2012. However, with Griffin coming back earlier than anyone could have expected and even if he does not take any preseason game snaps, White's challenge is now all the more difficult.