Written by Austin Fackler
Thursday night saw the standout linebacker from Louisiana State University taken as the 5th pick in the 2019 NFL draft where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to add to their list of former LSU linebackers to join the heart of their defense. White was very impressive as a member of the Tigers. In his sophomore season, he led the SEC in tackles per game with 10.2. He only improved into his junior season leading the SEC in total tackles with 123 including 12 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and also forced 3 fumbles recovering two of them. Throughout his three years with the Tigers, he would combine for 286 total tackles, 8.5 total sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, and 1 interception.
After signing with the Tigers to play running back, the tremendous athlete made the switch to linebacker look easy, in his second year he was name a permanent team captain earning All-SEC first team honors while making second team All-American. His junior season was met with highe standards which he lived up to becoming the first ever LSU Tiger to win the Butkus award as college football’s top linebacker, along with first and second All-American teams as well as another first team All-SEC award.
The exceptional linebacker also has a very interesting hobby, during his time away from football he is a horse lover, his newest addition was a horse name Daisy Mae who he kept in a stable just two miles away from tiger stadium. Riding Daisy to class when he could and tending to her every day after he would wake up was something he enjoyed doing but his best moment with his companion was being able to ride her in Tiger Stadium claiming it was “the best thing he’s ever done.”
The Bucs are getting a great player to help improve their defense that has been one of the worst teams statistically in the NFL for scoring defense finishing in the bottom 10 of the league seven of the last 10 years. LSU coach Ed Orgeron believes that White will have an immediate impact for the team stating that “He’s going to be a great leader” which is something the Bucs have been missing on the defensive side of the ball and are hoping that the top picked White will be able to fill that void.
