Prospect Bio

Rachaad White attended Center High School in Kansas City where he starred on the basketball court as much as he did on the gridiron. On the football field, White missed most of his junior season after suffering a broken clavicle and broken ribs. He came back strong in his senior season with 1,325 rushing yards and over 2,000 all-purpose yards. It wasn’t enough to catch the attention of college scouts, though, as White was an unranked recruit with zero offers from Division I schools. Instead, White attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney, only to redshirt his freshman season and then transfer to Mount San Antonio College. There, he rushed for 392 yards and two touchdowns during the 2018 season and 1,264 yards and ten touchdowns with another 195 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver in 2019. 

Looking to move out of the JUCO ranks, White passed on offers from UCLA and Tennessee to ultimately land with Arizona State as a three-star recruit in May 2020. Due to COVID-19, the Sun Devils only played four games during the 2020 season. In those four games, White managed to run for 10 yards a clip while averaging nearly 20 yards per reception for a total of 571 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. With a full slate of games on the schedule in 2021, White rushed for 1,006 yards and 15 touchdowns. He added a whopping 43 receptions for 456 yards and a score. 

College Stats

Rachaad White College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference

Positives

+Led his team in rushing and had the second-highest share of receiving yards in 2021

+Good hands 

+43 receptions in 2021

+Averaged 11.9 yards per reception in 2021

+Three-down back

+20.9% reception share in 2021

+Size 

+Patient runner

+Used on a few kick and punt returns 

+34.8% touchdown share in 2021

+1.82 yards per team play in 2021

Negatives

-Lacks breakaway speed

-Below-average contact balance

-Struggles in pass protection 

-Undisciplined runner

Highlight Reel

Comparable Player: Kenyan Drake

NFL Draft Projection: Fourth Round

Bottom Line:

Rachaad White had a long journey to the NFL. But not only did he finally make it, he is considered one of the top running backs in the class. He may even be the best pass-catcher among the group. Only Max Borghi had more receiving yards in a season among his 2022 classmates and White did it on half the receptions. White is also second in receptions per game (3.4) over his career. It will be no surprise, then, when he finds an immediate role as a pass-catching specialist at the NFL level. That role could evolve into a three-down opportunity which would put White into position to be a highly sought after running back in fantasy football.

Post Draft Analysis:

Rachaad White got the draft capital he needed to maintain his pre-draft dynasty ranking. Thanks to the Buccaneers in the third round, he got it. While Bruce Arians isn’t head coach anymore, White is reminiscent of a former Arians star back David Johnson. He’s a solid runner but his bread and butter comes in the passing game. Assuming he earns Tom Brady’s trust in training camp, White can be an immediate contributor as a third down back with the opportunity to eventually grow into the full Fournette role.

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

Yards Per-Formance Prospect Grade