White Earns MVP Honors
January 25, 2009 11:42 AM | General
January 25, 2009
Make it five for five. West Virginia’s Pat White wrapped up an outstanding college career by doing what he did for four years at WVU – lead his team to a bowl victory and earn game MVP honors.
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| Pat White accounted for 126 total yards in leading the South to a 35-18 victory in the 2009 Senior Bowl.
AP photo |
White accounted for 126 yards of offense and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Mississippi’s Mike Wallace to lead the South to a 35-18 victory over the North in the 2009 Senior Bowl played in Mobile, Ala.
White, who grew up in nearby Daphne, Ala., stood out among many more prominent signalcallers trying to impress NFL scouts in Mobile this week.
White led West Virginia to bowl victories against Georgia in the Sugar, Georgia Tech in the Gator, Oklahoma in the Fiesta and North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, capturing game MVP honors in his last three bowl appearances.
The knock on White is that he was primarily a running quarterback in college, but he showed good arm strength with his TD pass to Wallace in the corner of the end zone in the third quarter. Most experts predict an NFL career for White as a wide receiver, but White chose to take most of his reps in Mobile at quarterback.
“I’m just happy I had the opportunity,” White said after the game. “This was a great coaching staff that taught me a lot in a week. I’m looking forward to keeping working – trying to get better.”
ESPN’s Todd McShay spent last week criticizing White’s throwing accuracy and mechanics. McShay believes White’s best opportunity of making an NFL team is by moving to wide receiver.
White will get another opportunity to impress pro scouts at the NFL Combine Feb. 19 in Indianapolis.
Meanwhile, cornerback Ellis Lankster improved his stock by making an interception and producing a big tackle for a loss during the game. Lankster also made plays during the week.
“You can tell he's been a corner, he's been well coached and knows what he's doing.” said Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio, who coached the South team on Saturday.
