TUSCALOOSA, Ala.–Of the 17 players who participated in Alabama’s Pro Day on Wednesday, wide receiver DeAndrew White had the most to prove.
Pro Day is mostly for the players who weren’t invited to the NFL Combine, weren’t invited to the Senior Bowl, and still can improve their draft stock to NFL scouts. While White attended the Combine, he is still seen as a late-round or undrafted free agent type of player.
Though all 32 NFL teams were represented Wednesday, not a single NFL head coach was spotted, which is a change from last year’s attendees like Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. The general managers from the New York Jets and Giants, and dozens of NFL scouts were in attendance — I spotted at least seven from the Saints — and they seemed to be pleased with what they saw from White.
NFL Network and Fox analyst Charles Davis called White underrated, and said he spoke with a scout who would “pound the table” for him in the sixth round.
During his career at Alabama, especially his senior season, White was plagued by injuries. In four years at the school, he had 94 catches for 1,294 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns. But when he was healthy, he was reliable and managed to make some amazing catches. He could be an asset to NFL teams on special teams and as a top receiver if given the chance.
“I feel like I can be just as good as anybody out there in the league now,” White said. “Coming up, I didn’t really get a lot of attention, but it doesn’t bother me at all. I just handle my business and do the best I can do.”
Many of the players participating received ringing endorsements from Alabama head coach Nick Saban, but he tapped White as one of the most under-appreciated players at Pro Day.
“He has a lot more ability than what his production has been here, whether it’s because of injuries or whatever that he’s battled through,” Saban said. “I think he’s going to be a real value for somebody, who’s going to get a guy who has great ability but probably could develop into something special.”
White didn’t drop a pass in the drills on Pro Day. He also ran his routes with authority, was good without the ball, and improved on his NFL Combine 40-yard dash time of 4.44. He said scouts today told him he ran in the 4.34-4.37 range, which are unofficial hand-timed 40-yard dashes but are still fast.
“He did tremendously today,” Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper said. “He’s always getting better, he always wants to work, he’s really driven, and he can go out there and make plays.”
While safety Landon Collins will be attending the NFL Draft in Chicago — he gets fitted for his Draft Day suit today — White will be in Houston with family, hoping his name is called.
White said he hasn’t heard much from NFL teams yet, but he definitely arrived in the minds of NFL scouts from the Combine and his Pro Day.
“I think I changed a lot of people’s opinions about me,” White said. “I think I did great today, I did great at the Combine. All I need now is a chance.”
