Running back Jared White says that he and his backfield mates always want to ignite their team. That group, and namely White, did all that and them some for Montana State University in last Saturday’s 63-20 win over Utah Tech.
“We like to be the room that brings the energy,” White said with his Texas drawl. “Hype everybody up because we like to run the ball here.”
White, who hails from Frisco, Tex. the home of the FCS championship game, got into the act the first time he stepped on the field early in the second quarter on Saturday night. MSU quarterback Tommy Mellott was flushed out of the pocket and began scrambling to his right. White, alertly, broke out of his route and began working to get open for the pressured Mellott, who flung the ball about 35 yards downfield in White’s direction. White adjusted to the pass and leapt over a Utah Tech defender to haul it in and then scooted the remaining 15 yards to paydirt.
“My entire football career I’ve always worked on catching the ball,” said White, who’s touchdown catch covered 47 yards to be exact. “I know that’s part of the game now. Me and my dad have always worked on catching the ball, elevating my game.”
In the fourth quarter, White was in on another spectacular play when he ran the ball 79 yards for a touchdown. The running back may have had the easy job as quarterback Sean Chambers collected three blocks, including two where he knocked the Utah Tech defender to the ground, to clear the way.
“When it happened, I saw it at the last second,” White explained. “I was like, ‘okay, this might be a big play.’ Once I saw Sean coming out of the corner of my I was thinking we can make something happen right here.
“Sean’s my guy. Just him putting his body on the line like that for me, I love it.”
The Bobcats running game was in typical form against the Trailblazers Saturday as they rolled up 407 yards on 53 carries and seven rushing touchdowns. White finished with 84 yards on just four carries and his one reception for 47 yards gave him 131 total yards on the day.
“We had two weeks to prepare for Utah Tech, so lanes were just opening up,” White said. “It’s just football. The line did a great job opening everything up.
“One player that sticks out to me is (right guard) Omar (Aigbedion). I just love his energy and I just know that if it’s him in front of me blocking it’s gonna be a good day.”
Things haven’t always come so easy for White with the Bobcats. He suffered a severe leg injury on the first possession of the second game of the 2022 season against Morehead State just one a week after rushing for 89 yards on just seven carries against McNeese State in the first game of his college career. He didn’t play another down although he did suit up for the last game of the season against South Dakota State, a 38-19 loss for the Bobcats in the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs.
White and the Bobcats play SDSU in Brookings on Saturday.
“That South Dakota State game last year, phew, that was a game I wanted to be a part of badly,” White said. “I always tell myself you can’t get too high or get too low, but this (Saturday’s) game I’m excited about. I’m ready to show people what I can do.
“That game, it was cold, being from Texas but I was just there enjoying the moment and experiencing it. I’m ready. When my number’s called, I’m gonna do what I can do.”
Until then, White spent a lot of time recovering both physically and mentally. He had a good support group including teammates and coaches.
“Sean (Chambers) would always have an eye on me and come talk to me on the side and be like, ‘how you feeling’ and he’d point some things out to me that I probably wouldn’t notice,” White said. “He always gave the extra push. He and coach (Taylor) Housewright for sure would always be on me.”
His recovery period wasn’t all negative as he spent the time encouraging teammates and learning things about himself that he may not have otherwise known so soon in life.
“You always want to be on the field, but being on the sidelines I always want to be the extra excitement factor,” he said. “I’m a lot stronger mentally than I thought I was. The injury, it’s a very mental thing. I kept pushing myself, ‘I will end up on the right side of this.’ That’s what I’ve learned is the mental part, which is a big side. Trusting myself to make the cuts that I made before.”
In high school in Frisco, White set Wakeland High School records in career rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total offense and total touchdowns. He also set season records in rushing touchdowns (15), total yards (1,324), and total touchdowns (17). He rushed for 1,147 yards on 129 carries (8.9 per carry) as a senior in 2021, scoring 15 touchdowns. The prior season he rushed for 289 yards and totaled 1,450 yards rushing over his career. He had 298 yards receiving on 25 receptions.
White has been equally electric for the Bobcats in his brief career of barely over two games. During that time, he ran for 177 yards on just 12 carries (14.8 avg.). He also has three receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Unlike last year, White won’t miss his chance to play the defending champion and No. 1 ranked Jackrabbits as the Bobcats, ranked third, travel to Brookings, SD Saturday for a 5:00 (Mountain) kickoff.
