LSU junior linebacker Devin White isn’t worried about the outside noise surrounding the unknown commodities the Tigers have at their disposal. White is instead focused on being a leader of a defensive unit with high internal expectations for the 2018 season.
White has not gone without his fair share of preseason accolades, being consistently rumored as a first round pick in next year’s draft, along with being a preseason All-American and most recently put on the watchlist for the Bednarik Award, given to the best defensive player in the country. White, however, feels no pressure on himself to produce because it’s something he’s been doing his whole life.
“On the field, no pressure,” White said. “I’m not going to let anything bother me and just try to stay cool and collected. I tell myself to just play within the scheme like I did last year, and that’s how I had the success I did.”
Last season, White couldn’t escape the TV screen, collecting 133 tackles, 4.5 sacks and an interception. The 133 total tackles more than doubled the next Tiger.
But it’s the leadership, not only on the field, but off the field that keeps White motivated to produce in front of the younger guys on the team.
“I was embarrassed after the Troy game,” White said. “There’s always a lot at stake when we step on the field because of what the guys before us have done. I was trying to lead by my actions, but after we lost to Troy, coach Orgeron called me in and said I needed to step up.”
Teammate Rashard Lawrence echoed those sentiments about the Troy game and added that he has been really impressed with White’s increased voice within the team.
“He’s the ultimate leader now,” Lawrence said. “He is so respected by the guys that have played here and the guys that play now. The thing that makes Devin so good is the film room. We were on the plane, and he was talking about schemes against Miami.”
Even the best need polishing, and that’s exactly what White did towards the end of the 2017 season. White said he cleaned up his tackling, which helped immensely in the last three games of the season.
“I don’t think I missed a tackle the last three games of the season,” White said. “My footwork, being patient and improving in my communication helped other guys get on the same page.”
With gambling becoming legal this year in all states, college football is no different. White has a friendly wager with new transfer quarterback Joe Burrow for fall camp.
“He told me if I catch an interception on him in fall camp, he’d give me $100,” White said. “He said if I don’t catch one, then I’m good but just know that [he] didn’t throw a pick.”
With LSU’s extremely difficult schedule featuring the two championship opponents in Georgia and Alabama, White’s message to the team is simple.
“We need to just take it one game at a time,” White said. “We play a lot of great teams, which is very welcoming. That’s what we want to do, and at the end of the day, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”