North’s White drawing national attention
By now, many sports fans have seen it on TV and the internet, both locally and nationally.
A North Fort Myers High School running back goes up the middle, darts to his left and sees nothing but black jerseys converging on him. All 11 of them jump on him, spin him around, but incredibly he doesn’t go down. Instead, he darts to his right, finds daylight and races toward the corner of the end zone, hurdling over a defender as he crosses the goal line.
This incredible run against Sarasota Riverview in the Red Knights’ spring game has made soon-to-be junior Zaquandre White somewhat of a household name, one that has college scouts and coaches salivating even if he has verbally committed to Florida State.
Within days, the run went viral. Every local TV station was running it on their broadcasts, with major sports networks like ESPN also showing clips of the run. Such attention may give some kids a big head, but White isn’t some entitled, cocky athlete.
White shared the backfield duties last season, but is expected to carry the load at tailback in the fall for a team looking to score its first winning season since 2007 when Noel Divine roamed the backfield.
Red Knights coach Earnest Graham said he’s not too surprised by all White does.
“He’s just a determined player, and when you have his mix of skills impressive things happen. I expect him to make more runs like that,” Graham said.
Bill Johnson, Riverview’s head coach, said his players were teeing off on him and wrapping him up. He was just too strong.
“He’s so strong and flexible and athletic, he was able to get out of it, which 99 percent of the kids we play won’t be able to do,” Johnson said. “I’m excited for him because he has a great mentor.”
Graham said he sees a player with “potential through the roof.”
“The question is what he’ll put on himself as a competitor and being a student of the game,” said Graham. “That will make him a special player.”
Right now, Graham said White’s strengths are his flexibility and instincts. He just needs to focus on his enormous set of skills and learn to use them.
“When you have a huge skill set, it’s hard to narrow them and find the focus as an athlete to make him more effective,” Graham said. “Getting that focus will help him out.”
“If he’s able to improve and listen to what Coach Graham tells him, the sky’s the limit,” Johnson said. “It depends on if he’s willing to improve and get better to become elite or stay the same.”