Most fans probably don't realize Wisconsin senior tailback James White is just 49 yards away from the 1,000-yard mark this season. But being overlooked is nothing new for White.
He seemingly always has been the "other" guy wherever he has played. It started in high school, at powerhouse Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas. As a senior in 2010, White shared carries with Gio Bernard, who went on to sign with North Carolina and was a second-round pick by Cincinnati in the 2013 draft. White also was overshadowed as a St. Thomas recruit that year by defensive backs Lamarcus Joyner (now a starter at Florida State) and Cody Riggs (Florida) and by offensive lineman Brandon Linder (Miami).
At Wisconsin, White has shared carries with Montee Ball (2010-12), John Clay (2010-11) and Melvin Gordon (2012-13). This season, Gordon has garnered a ton of national attention with his production (128.9 yards per game, 11 TDs, 8.1 yards per carry).
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But while Gordon is more explosive, White (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) is a talented runner in his own right. He has started all but one game, is averaging 105.7 yards per game, also has 11 rushing touchdowns and is a better receiver and blocker than Gordon.
First-year Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen said White is the most complete back he has been around, and that includes Gordon and Robert Turbin, who played for Andersen at Utah State and now plays for the Seattle Seahawks.
"His ability to block and be physical, his ability to be a downhill runner and have some speed on the outside and catch the football, it's a very unique package," Andersen said Saturday after Wisconsin beat BYU. "He can do all that stuff very well."
White led the Badgers with 147 yards and two TDs against BYU; Gordon finished with 86, his second consecutive sub-100-yard day. While not as fast as Gordon, White has good speed and can turn the corner. White also is a tough between-the-tackles runner and can be an effective receiver. White is No. 80 on NFL Media draft analyst Gil Brandt's list of the nation's top 100 seniors, and most analysts see White as a fourth- or fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft.
Saturday's performance was White's second 100-yard game in a row and his sixth this season; he had 23 carries, his third game this season with at least 20 carries. Gordon, meanwhile, has had just one 20-carry game this season; that is the only one in his career, and it's fair to wonder if Gordon is wearing down some. Gordon has had at least 17 carries in each of the past four games, and he never had had more than 16 carries in a game before that.
White also has scored two touchdowns in three consecutive games and should reach the 1,000-yard plateau Saturday against a pitiful Indiana defense. It would be the second 1,000-yard season of his career; he had 1,052 yards as a true freshman in 2010.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
