White Named First-Team Academic All-American
11/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 24, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State fifth-year senior wide receiver Blair White has been named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). White becomes MSU's first Academic All-American since center Chris Morris and quarterback Drew Stanton earned second-team honors in 2005 and the program's first first-team selection since safety Steve Wasylk in 1993.
White, who graduated last May with a 3.89 grade-point average in human biology, began pursuing a second bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies in social science - human resources this fall. He already has been accepted into the University of Detroit Mercy's School of Dentistry.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection by the league's head coaches, White leads the Spartans in receptions (64), receiving yards (876) and touchdown catches (8). His eight TD receptions (tied for fourth), 64 catches (tied for sixth) and 876 receiving yards (ninth) rank among the Top 10 single-season totals in Michigan State history. Forty-one of his 64 catches (64 percent) have produced either a first down or a score, including 14 gains of 20 or more yards. He has led the team in receptions in eight of 12 games this season.
The 6-2, 200-pound White ranks among the Big Ten leaders in TD receptions (first), receiving yards (third at 73.0 per game) and receptions (fourth at 5.3 per game). He also is listed among the NCAA leaders in both receiving yards (No. 39) and receptions (No. 40).
"Blair White has done everything that he's been asked to do here as a student-athlete: in the classroom, on the field and in the community," MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. "Blair has always achieved at a high level in the academic arena, and this season, he elevated his game and competed at an All-Big Ten level. He has been a go-to receiver for us all year long, and he's had a number of huge touchdown receptions. Blair is a sure-handed receiver, who runs disciplined routes, so he breeds confidence in our quarterbacks. He's been a major contributor on offense the last two years because he plays with such consistency. You can count on Blair to show up on game day.
"We congratulate Blair on his academic and athletic successes."
"Blair has always been a very dedicated and gifted student, and to see that recognized along with his athletic achievements, and how he's gone about it, is very inspirational," MSU Director of Academic Services and Head Football Academic Coordinator Todd Edwards said. "He's most deserving of this award and embodies the distinction of Academic All-American. He serves as a tremendous role model on the field, in the classroom and in the community. I could not be happier for Blair and his family."
"It's truly an honor to be recognized as an Academic All-American," White said.
"Early in my career, I decided to focus on academics because as a walk-on, I wasn't seeing a lot of playing time on the field. My parents always stressed the importance of taking pride in posting high grades. Coach (Mark) Dantonio also encourages all of the football student-athletes to take advantage of the academic resources available here and strive for excellence in the classroom as well as on the playing field.
"We didn't win as many games as we all would have liked this fall, but this has been a special senior year nonetheless."
The Saginaw, Mich., native was selected Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after setting career highs for receptions (12) and receiving yards (186) and matched his career-best with two TD receptions in the Spartans' 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern. In addition, he was named National Wide Receiver of the Week (shared honor with Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes) by the College Football Performance Awards.
His 12 catches (fourth) and 186 receiving yards (10th) rank among the top single-game totals in Spartan history. In addition, his 186 receiving yards are the highest single-game figure in the Big Ten and the 22nd-best single-game total in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season. White scored on TD grabs of 22 and 47 yards from Cousins in the third quarter against the Wildcats. It marked White's third 100-yard receiving game of the season and the fifth of his career.
He recorded back-to-back 100-yard receiving games against Montana State (nine catches for 162 yards and two TDs) and Central Michigan (seven for 105). White scored on TD grabs of 15 and 24 yards from Cousins in the season opener against the Bobcats, and almost one-third of his receiving yards (51 of 162) came after the catch.
A former walk-on, White has 110 career receptions for 1,560 yards (14.2 avg.) and nine TDs. He has caught at least one pass in 23 consecutive games.
To be eligible for the Academic All-America Team, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.3 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his career. He also must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing.
