Melvin White (American football)

A native of Freeport, Texas, White attended Brazosport High School, where he was a two-sport star in both football and track. In football, he played first as a wide receiver and then as a quarterback for coach Brian Welch, and was a second-team All-district selection as a junior. In his senior season, he switched from wide receiver to quarterback and was named first-team All-district and offensive MVP of Brazoria county as a quarterback after rushing for 783 yards on 128 carries (6.1 yards per carry) and completing 85-of-165 pass attempts (51.5%) for 999 yards.{{cite web|url=http://www.ragincajuns.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3343|title=The Official Athletics Site of the Ragin' Cajuns|publisher=|access-date=15 January 2016}}

White was also a standout in track & field at Brazosport, owning bests of {{convert|22|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on|sp=us}} in the long jump, achieved at the 2008 Pearland Regional Qualifiers Meet,{{cite web|url=http://www.texastrack.com/Track%202008/08t_pearland_regional_qualifier.htm|title=2008 Pearland Regional Qualifiers Meet|publisher=|access-date=15 January 2016}} and {{convert|44|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on|sp=us}} in the triple jump (2007 Gulf Coast Relays).{{cite web |url=http://www.insidetexasrunning.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=78744751BC5C4E9A9ED35CC83838450D |title=Final 2007 Greater Houston H.S. Track and Field Rankings (Boys) |website=insidetexasrunning.com |publisher=Texas Runner & Triathlete |date=March 10, 2009 |last=Henderson |first=Russell |access-date=January 18, 2016}} He also participated in hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.9 seconds in the 110 metres hurdles.{{cite web |url=http://www.gobearkats.com/pdf1/125818.pdf |title=High School UIL Region Meet Results |date=April 25, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2016 |publisher=Sam Houston State University |website=gobearkats.com}}

Regarded as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, White was not ranked among the top prospects of his class.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Melvin-White-62934|title=Melvin White|publisher=|access-date=15 January 2016}}

{{College athlete recruit start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2009}}

{{College athlete recruit entry

| recruit = Melvin White

| position = ATH

| hometown = Freeport, Texas

| highschool = Brazosport High School

| feet = 6

| inches = 3

| weight = 180

| 40 =

| commitdate = February 4, 2009

| rivals stars = 2

| 247 stars = 2

| ESPN Rating = NR

}}

{{College athlete recruit end

| 40 = no

| year = 2009

| rivals ref title = Louisiana-Lafayette Football Commitment List

| scout ref title = 2009 Louisiana-Lafayette Football Recruiting Commits

| rivals school = louisianalafayette

| scout s = 16

| scout overall = 132 (QB)

| rivals overall = NR

| accessdate = September 15, 2014

}}

White attended University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he graduated with a degree in criminal justice and played four seasons for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team. White started 12 games at cornerback during his redshirt freshman year and recorded 12 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a game against LSU. During his sophomore year, White started 12 games. In a game against Arkansas State, White recovered a fumble that led to a field goal. In a game against Ole Miss, White registered a career-high seven tackles and added a 93-yard fumble return for a touchdown. During his junior season, White started 13 games at safety, finishing third on the team with 8.5 tackles-for-loss (−30 yards) with two interceptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In a game against Nicholls State, White returned a blocked field goal for a 68-yard touchdown, the third longest return touchdown in school history. In a game against Troy, White recorded an 89-yard interception touchdown, also the third longest in school history. During a victory against San Diego State in the New Orleans Bowl, White made 5 tackles and 2 pass breakups. For his efforts, White was given an Honorable mention All-Sun Belt Team. During his senior season, White started 13 games at cornerback and led the team with 10 passes defensed in addition to recording 60 tackles and one forced fumble. In his collegiate career, White compiled 155 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, 19 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He graduated in December 2012 with a degree in criminal justice.{{cite web|url=http://www.panthers.com/team/roster/melvin-white/67957c9c-9111-4022-b455-3ab86acb0937/|title=Carolina Panthers: Melvin White|publisher=|access-date=15 January 2016}}

Despite an impressive college career, White was a projected undrafted free agent in the 2013 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=84872&draftyear=2013&genpos=FS|title=Melvin White – Louisiana, FS : 2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile|publisher=|access-date=15 January 2016}} He had an opportunity to impress NFL talent evaluators in the 2013 East–West Shrine Game.

{{nfl predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = {{fraction|1|1|4}}

| weight = 206

| dash = 4.59

| ten split = 1.70

| twenty split = 2.71

| shuttle = 4.47

| cone drill = 7.29

| vertical = 32.5

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 2

| bench = 12

| wonderlic =

| arm span = {{fraction|32|5|8}}

| hand span = {{fraction|9|1|8}}

| note = All values from Louisiana Pro Day or East-West Shrine Game{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/16443/melvin-white|title=Melvin White|work=ESPN.com|access-date=15 January 2016}}

}}

At Louisiana's Pro Day, White (6–1 ¼, 203 pounds) worked out as a cornerback, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.59 and 4.62 seconds and recorded a 32-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-2 broad jump. He completed the 20-yard shuttle drill in 4.47 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.29 seconds. White also recorded 12 strength lifts.

On May 10, 2013, White signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent. He made his debut in a 12–7 loss in the season-opener against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/melvinwhite/2539251/gamelogs?season=2013|title=Melvin White: Game Logs at NFL.com|website=NFL.com |publisher=|access-date=15 January 2016}}

Through the first six games, White allowed a stingy 58.9 passer rating when quarterbacks threw in his direction.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/mario_clp/status/400334471196463104|title=Mario|work=Twitter|access-date=15 January 2016}} In his second NFL game, in a 38-point shutout victory win against the New York Giants, White recorded 2 tackles, 1 pass defense, his first interception against quarterback, Eli Manning, and his first forced fumble on Giants wide receiver Louis Murphy in Carolina territory in the fourth quarter to help preserve shutout. In the season finale victory over the Atlanta Falcons, White intercepted a pass by Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and returned it eight yards for a touchdown. He also collected a career-high eight tackles and helped the Panthers win the NFC South and secure their first playoff appearance since 2008.

In his rookie season, White started 10 regular season games and posted 45 tackles, two interceptions – one of which he returned for a touchdown – five passes defensed and one forced fumble. He contributed to unit that ranked second in the NFL in total defense and points allowed and led the league in sacks while finishing second in rushing defense and sixth in passing defense.{{cite web|url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/2013-rookie-class-in-review/186f2092-b80b-4bbb-96a6-0a1ddbf5f7ac|title=2013 rookie class in review|publisher=|access-date=15 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220122954/http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/2013-rookie-class-in-review/186f2092-b80b-4bbb-96a6-0a1ddbf5f7ac|archive-date=20 February 2014|url-status=dead}}

White finished as the 5th best cornerback in the 2014 NFL Preseason according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/09/02/2014-preview-carolina-panthers/|title=2014 Preview: Carolina Panthers|publisher=|access-date=15 January 2016}} In the home opener against the Detroit Lions, White recorded 3 tackles, 3 pass deflections, and returned an interception 23 yards off a deflection from Thomas DeCoud on a pass from Matthew Stafford intended for Calvin Johnson.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/melvinwhite/2539251/profile|title=Melvin White|work=NFL.com|access-date=15 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/09/14/newton-defense-lead-panthers-over-lions-24-7/15635213/|title=Newton, defense lead Panthers over Lions 24–7|date=14 September 2014|work=USA TODAY|access-date=15 January 2016}} Through the first two games of the season, White led the NFL in passes defensed.{{cite web|url=http://www.catscratchreader.com/2014/9/16/6226653/panthers-24-lions-7-gif-review|title=Panthers 24 Lions 7 GIF Review|author=Jaxon|date=16 September 2014|work=Cat Scratch Reader|access-date=15 January 2016}} During the Panthers wildcard playoff victory over the Arizona Cardinals, White forced a fumble on a kickoff return on Ted Ginn Jr., which led to a turnover and eventual touchdown.{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}}

On September 3, 2015, White was released by the Carolina Panthers with an injury settlement. On September 15, 2015, the St. Louis Rams signed White to their practice squad.{{cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notebook-quick-eager-to-return-to-field/article_65b73121-e238-5baa-9744-4a546dff73f2.html |title=Rams notebook: Quick eager to return to field |last=Lyons |first=Joe |date=September 16, 2015 |website=STLtoday.com |access-date=September 16, 2015}}

On January 15, 2016, White signed a 1-year, $600,000 contract with the Minnesota Vikings to a reserve/future contract.{{cite web |url=http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Sign-CB-Melvin-White-To-ReserveFuture-Contract/5ecee3f1-f60e-42fc-b8fd-86050f34b114?campaign=sf18954924+sf18954924 |title=Vikings Sign CB Melvin White To Reserve/Future Contract |publisher=Minnesota Vikings |date=January 15, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/melvin-white/ |title=Melvin White Contract, Salary Cap Details & Breakdowns |publisher=Spotrac |access-date=January 18, 2016}} On August 25, 2016, White was waived by the Vikings.{{cite web|title=Vikings waive CB Melvin White|url=http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/vikings-waive-cb-melvin-white-082516|website=FOXSports.com}}

White joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL in October, 2017.{{cite web|title=Melvin White #28 Defensive Back|url=https://www.riderville.com/players/melvin-white/162617/|website=riderville.com|publisher=CFL Enterprises|access-date=14 February 2018}} On February 22, 2018, White was re-signed by the Riders.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/21/riders-re-sign-t-j-thorpe-three-others/|title=Riders re-sign T.J. Thorpe; three others – CFL.ca|date=2018-02-21|work=CFL.ca|access-date=2018-02-22|language=en-US}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/Melvin-White/6cf4f20e-ce87-4822-b80d-91f8928557ce Minnesota Vikings bio]
• [http://www.ragincajuns.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3343 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Melvin}}

Category:1990 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football cornerbacks

Category:Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football players

Category:Carolina Panthers players

Category:St. Louis Rams players

Category:Minnesota Vikings players