UofL Football is currently in the heat of the recruiting period. Summer is when official visits happen, camps happen, and commitments happen. Currently, the Cards have two commitments in standouts DL/LB Popeye Williams and QB Khalib Johnson. However, there’s one player that officially visited this weekend. A young S/LB that has great size, that has great acumen for the game, and could become a true force either in our secondary or front seven. This young man may very well be the next commitment and it would be a great thing for the program. His name is Jaylon White.
White is a 6’2 200 lbs S/LB out of Little Rock, AR. He’s a consensus 3 Star prospect with very high ceiling. As of now, White has 21 offers that include Ole Miss, Baylor, Indiana, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Utah. More offers could come as the pandemic recedes and camps and campuses open up. According to 247sports, he’s a composite 3 Star that’s rated 120 at his position nationally (they have him listed as a LB).
Jaylon White Hudl Highlights
White would be an excellent get for UofL because he’s exactly the type of player on defense Bryan Brown will thrive with. Versatility, especially from the S position, is something the defensive staff covets. White is very versatile as he is seemingly comfortable playing centerfield and protecting and picking off deep passes or getting around the line of scrimmage and stopping the running game. Playing in single coverage against a slot is something he’s not afraid to do as well. He’s equally adept at each aspect.
He’s got excellent speed, able to cover sideline-to-sideline and get from the backfield to behind the line of scrimmage and bring down ball carriers. I can see why he’s a S, but some recruiting sites believe he could play LB. He’s got the size and the frame to bulk up and play LB or he can use his athleticism and speed to play back and be a ball hawk.
Jaylon’s ability to dissect quickly what an offense is doing on a particular play and be in position to make stops, break up passes, or blow a play up in the backfield is special. Once again, it’s something that the staff obviously covets. He trusts his eyes and has great instincts to be able to be a scary playmaking presence.
Jaylon can be a big hitter and he’s a very good tackler. He’s able to bring down RBs or WRs and understands some of the simple, fundamental techniques of tackling. His speed and play recognition may be able to get him in position, but his tackling truly makes him a valuable player.
Finally, his motor is amazing. Watching some of his highlights, I saw one particular play that absolutely made me believe Jaylon White would be a great get for UofL. He starts out the play on the right side of the field between the hash and the sideline. He runs clear across all the way to the other sideline and lays a big hit on a RB. His team had the RB hemmed in, but he was not going to be stopped. That’s a special kind of heart and hustle.
If UofL can land Jaylon White, they will get a player that they can utilize in a variety of ways, if they so chose. I can see him playing centerfield or playing that all important S/LB hybrid position, the Card position. He’s the type of player that can easily grow into someone every opposing offense will have to account for on every play. Hopefully, the staff can land him this recruiting cycle.
