Name: Keion White

School: Georgia Tech

Year: Redshirt Senior

Position: EDGE / Defensive Line

Measurables: 6’5”, 285 lbs. (Combine Measurements)

Combine: ARM: 34”. HAND: 10 1/8th”. VERTICAL: 34”. BROAD: 9’9”. BENCH: 30 Reps 

Stats:

Courtesy of Sports-Reference.com

General Info:

Keion White grew up in and went to high school in Garner, North Carolina. While in high school, White starred for the Garner Trojans, adding to the school’s impressive athletic legacy that includes Nyheim Hines and the NBA player John Wall. Despite this, White was a sparsely recruited prospect. 247Sports lists him as a composite 3-star prospect, the 141st best TE prospect (the position he was recruited as), and the 86th highest ranked North Carolinian. Ultimately, White committed to Old Dominion—the only school that offered him.

White was redshirted his Freshman year at Old Dominion and did not appear in a single game for the Monarchs. In his sophomore season in 2018, he became the full-time starter at TE for the Monarchs, starting all eight games he appeared in and recorded 11 catches for 124 yards.

During Spring practices the following season, White transitioned to defensive end, and would start all 12 games of Old Dominions 2019 season at the position. After recording 62 total tackles, 19 tackles-for-loss, and 3.5 sacks, he was named Second Team All-Conference. Unfortunately, White was not given a chance to build on that success, as Old Dominion cancelled their 2020 season due to Covid-19. Following what would have been his redshirt Junior season, White transferred to Georgia Tech with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

White’s first season as a Yellow Jacket did not go as planned; an offseason injury cost him all but four games in 2021, and he failed to record a single sack. With one year of eligibility remaining, White made the easy choice to stick around for his redshirt Senior season, and may very well have catapulted himself into the first round of the NFL draft. In 12 games, White recorded 54 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks while wowing scouts with his impressive athleticism.

White’s suddenly shining star continued to burn even brighter after the 2022 NCAA season concluded. He was invited to the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl, and while scout/talking head Daniel Jeremiah said he didn’t necessarily have any “wow” moments, White was consistently very good. Scouts at the Senior Bowl seemed to feel similarly, indicating that they believed he could go in the top 20 of the NFL Draft. White was also invited to the annual NFL Scouting Combine. While he did not participate in every drill (and I’ve been unable to find an explanation, which suggests he may be waiting for his Pro Day for some of them), he showed excellent ability in the drills he did do. His 30-reps during the Bench were tied for the second most among defensive lineman, and he performed well in both the Broad and Vertical Jumps. Perhaps the area White most stood-out though? His raw measurements—White is a big edge player at 6’5” 285 lbs. and his size presents intriguing possibility; a creative DC can make a monster out of him.

Positional Skills:

Strengths

White’s impressive combination of athleticism and size creates some massive versatility. He should be able to play any of: 3-4 END, 4-3 END, 3-4 OLB, and perhaps even see some snaps as an interior lineman in certain formations.

To just follow-up on the athleticism comment; he does not move like a 285 lb. man; he has remarkable fluidity and agility. These clips of him doing the “Run and Club” and “Wave Drills” at the Combine from WalkTheMock are great examples. There’s also this clip of White (did I mention he is 285 lbs.?) going step-for-step with a running back. Whoever drafts White is getting one of the freakiest of a freaky edge class.

Solid production in college. Despite only converting to the defensive side of the ball in 2019 (and only playing two and a quarter seasons at the position due to an offseason injury and the cancellation of Old Dominion’s 2020 season), White was able to manage 7.5 sacks last year against some decent ACC competition. He should continue to develop.

High motor player; there’s not a play White doesn’t try to finish, and he’ll spend all day fighting through blocks.

White bends well, and combines that with excellent raw speed and power. As he continues to become more efficient in using his natural traits, he can become an absolute game-wrecker.

Weaknesses

As indicated in a number of the “Pros” for Keion White: he is a work in progress as a very raw edge player who is still learning the position after starting his career at Tight End.

Lacks consistency, probably because of his lack of polish. He is overly reliant on athletic traits and doesn’t have the technicality to overcome offensive lineman who can handle his raw traits.

White is an old prospect; he will be 24 on draft day.

Short arms for his size.

Lack of experience shows. White is not instinctive, nor a quick processor at this time.

Also developing his hands. He’s had a tendency to give up first contact to the offensive lineman he is working against, and can get erased from plays due to inferior positioning as a result. Struggles to shed blocks when he gets beat like that,

Fit with the Packers:

It seems very, very likely that White goes in the first round, though some draft aggregates see him as a trait-heavy day two pick. Daniel Jeremiah currently has White ranked as his 27th best prospect, but has previously had him as high as number eight. Additionally, rumblings at the Combine suggest White is likely to be made a top-20 pick by a team that values athleticism and believes they can develop him.

Now what team values highly athletic, if somewhat raw EDGE/DL players and has a strong recent track record in developing them after making them 1st round picks…

Keion White is a classic Packers’ first rounder in everything but his age, and we saw Green Bay overlook a prospects age in the first round last year. The Packers love guys like White who offer incredible versatility and upside, even if the floor is lower. While he isn’t necessarily my favorite option at 15, he could absolutely be in play for the Packers at that spot. Draft White, let him follow the Rashan Gary development path, and profit. I think White would be an excellent fit in Green Bay as a rotational pass-rusher for his first season or two, before allowing him to step in as a full-time starter once Preston Smith moves on.