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Frog plans to leap his peers
By JEFF WILSON
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Marvin White projects as a third- or fourth-round pick in the NFL Draft after a productive two seasons playing safety at TCU.
His former TCU teammates called him Gator, a nickname that refers to many aspects of Marvin White.
One is a product of geography. White is a native of Louisiana, where the alligator is the state reptile.
But the moniker also stems from a one-two punch of White's specialties: the way he attacks opponents in the secondary, and a confident mouth that isn't afraid to talk about the big hits he delivers.
That combination is likely to convince a team to call White's name this weekend during the NFL Draft. The team that lands him will have an ambitious rookie in training camp.
"It doesn't matter what round I go," said White, who led the Horned Frogs in tackles last season en route to a spot on the Mountain West Conference's first team.
"I just want to get a shot in the NFL. I'm going to show them who the best safety in the country is."
Scouts like White's toughness and athletic ability. He was disappointed with his 4.54-second time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, but has since improved it to 4.45.
White (6-foot-1 1/2 , 199 pounds) said scouts have encouraged him to make some technique improvements and also expand his knowledge of defenses. That, though, was one area where he impressed his TCU coaches last season.
Add it up, and White is being projected as a third- or fourth-round pick.
"Marvin White is probably an early day-two guy," said Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN's draft guru. "He's got good size. He's a pretty good athlete who runs pretty well. He had a nice year overall."
White, selected by teammates as the Frogs' defensive MVP last season, has conducted his pre-draft workouts at TCU, alongside former Frogs Jeremy Modkins and Jason Tucker. Those two, both with tastes of life in pro football, have helped prep White for the business aspect of the NFL.
He has already caught on to that. He has had individual workouts with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, and face-to-face time with Cowboys personnel past (Jacksonville Jaguars assistant Dave Campo) and current (at the "Dallas" day workout April 13).
"It's been a great experience," said White, who intercepted seven passes in his two seasons in Fort Worth after transferring from Kilgore Junior College.
"It's more of a business than just playing football. They want to know your whole life story. They want to be really detailed. It's a business, and that's the way I have to approach it if I want to stay around long in the NFL."
Business starts to pick up this weekend, and White is eager to get his NFL career started.
"I've done everything I can to the best of my ability, just to show them that I'm a heck of a player," said White, 23. "They like my style of play. I got good feedback from everyone I talked to. But I won't know anything until that day happens and they call my name."
ONLINE: nfl.com
Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7953 jwilson@star-telegram.com
By JEFF WILSON
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Marvin White projects as a third- or fourth-round pick in the NFL Draft after a productive two seasons playing safety at TCU.
His former TCU teammates called him Gator, a nickname that refers to many aspects of Marvin White.
One is a product of geography. White is a native of Louisiana, where the alligator is the state reptile.
But the moniker also stems from a one-two punch of White's specialties: the way he attacks opponents in the secondary, and a confident mouth that isn't afraid to talk about the big hits he delivers.
That combination is likely to convince a team to call White's name this weekend during the NFL Draft. The team that lands him will have an ambitious rookie in training camp.
"It doesn't matter what round I go," said White, who led the Horned Frogs in tackles last season en route to a spot on the Mountain West Conference's first team.
"I just want to get a shot in the NFL. I'm going to show them who the best safety in the country is."
Scouts like White's toughness and athletic ability. He was disappointed with his 4.54-second time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, but has since improved it to 4.45.
White (6-foot-1 1/2 , 199 pounds) said scouts have encouraged him to make some technique improvements and also expand his knowledge of defenses. That, though, was one area where he impressed his TCU coaches last season.
Add it up, and White is being projected as a third- or fourth-round pick.
"Marvin White is probably an early day-two guy," said Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN's draft guru. "He's got good size. He's a pretty good athlete who runs pretty well. He had a nice year overall."
White, selected by teammates as the Frogs' defensive MVP last season, has conducted his pre-draft workouts at TCU, alongside former Frogs Jeremy Modkins and Jason Tucker. Those two, both with tastes of life in pro football, have helped prep White for the business aspect of the NFL.
He has already caught on to that. He has had individual workouts with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, and face-to-face time with Cowboys personnel past (Jacksonville Jaguars assistant Dave Campo) and current (at the "Dallas" day workout April 13).
"It's been a great experience," said White, who intercepted seven passes in his two seasons in Fort Worth after transferring from Kilgore Junior College.
"It's more of a business than just playing football. They want to know your whole life story. They want to be really detailed. It's a business, and that's the way I have to approach it if I want to stay around long in the NFL."
Business starts to pick up this weekend, and White is eager to get his NFL career started.
"I've done everything I can to the best of my ability, just to show them that I'm a heck of a player," said White, 23. "They like my style of play. I got good feedback from everyone I talked to. But I won't know anything until that day happens and they call my name."
ONLINE: nfl.com
Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7953 jwilson@star-telegram.com
