LenDale White
Encyclopedia
LenDale Anthony White is an American football
running back
. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans
in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Southern California.
He has also been a member of the Seattle Seahawks
and Denver Broncos
.
, the former Colorado All-American wide receiver who played in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns.
His 2002 honors included Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Tom Lemming All-American, Super Prep Elite 50, Tom Lemming Top 100, Super Prep All-Midlands, Prep Star All-Midlands, Tom Lemming All-Midland, Orange County Register Fab 15 second team, Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year, Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado first team and Rocky Mountain News Class 5A All-State first team as a senior tailback at Chatfield High in Littleton (Colo.). He ran for 1,683 yards and 20 TDs in 2003. He played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
with several of his future USC Trojan teammates.
He finished his career (starting all 4 years) as Colorado's career rushing leader, with 7,804 yards.
White shared his playing time at tailback
with Reggie Bush
at the University of Southern California
. Despite being the lesser hyped member of the Trojan backfield, White was a standout rusher who led the team in rushing in his first two seasons and was a 2005 All-America
selection.
White and Bush formed a 'Thunder and Lightning' combination, with Bush playing the smaller but faster back while White was the bigger, more powerful back. This combination gave USC a formidable backfield of rushers. On Jan. 4, 2005, White rushed for three touchdowns in a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the 2004 BCS National Championship game played at Orange Bowl (Pro Player Stadium) in Miami. A year later, on Jan. 4, 2006, White again rushed for three touchdowns in USC's 41-38 loss to Texas in the 2005 BCS Championship Game played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. In his three years, White set the USC career rushing touchdowns record of 52. He also finished with 3,159 yards and a 5.9 average per rush. White was not implicated in the Bush scandal. After the 2006 Rose Bowl
, White declared himself eligible for the NFL draft.
During USC's workout day, he cited hamstring worries as a reason for not running or performing any workouts aside from the bench press, where he managed only 15 repetitions at 225 pounds. An out of shape White did sustain a torn hamstring, but surgery was not required to mend it. His injury did, however, keep him off of the football field until May, 2006.
In April, White was drafted in the second round (45th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft
by the Tennessee Titans
.
, where White spat in Nickey's face, drawing the ire of his Tennessee teammates.
On the field, White was used sparingly in his rookie season. He played in 13 games, gaining 244 yards on 61 carries with no touchdowns. White also caught 14 passes for 60 yards.
White began the 2007-2008 season splitting time with Chris Brown
. He was held for under 60 yards in the first four games. On October 21, with Brown sidelined with an injury, White tallied his first 100 yard rushing game against the Houston Texans
. He followed up that performance with a career high 133 yard rushing performance against the Oakland Raiders
. Through 16 weeks he rushed for 1,110 yards and 7 touchdowns with a 3.7 yard average.
White underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. The knee had bothered White during the last half of the 2007 season, but he was expected to be at full strength for offseason minicamps in May.
On March 15, 2008, White received citations for destruction of property, disobedience to a lawful order/interference and resistance while in Denver, Colorado, though all charges were later dropped.
White was joined in the Titans backfield by rookie Chris Johnson
, who was selected with the 24th pick in the 2008 draft
. The duo eventually became known as "Smash and Dash"
White had career highs in TD's in a season (15), longest run (80 yards), TD's in 1 game (3) and rushing yards in a game (149). He also created controversy after the Titans defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers
by stomping on a Terrible Towel
White finished the 2008 season with 773 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns (1st in AFC).
White lost significant weight prior to the 2009 NFL season, dropping to 229, claming a tougher training regiment and cutting tequila
out of his diet aided in his weight loss. After splitting carries with Johnson in 2008, White was virtually a non-factor in 2009 as Johnson became the featured back.
White was re-signed by the Titans on April 15, 2010.
on April 24, 2010. The trade reunited White and his former USC Trojans head coach Pete Carroll. Shortly after signing, word leaked that White had failed an NFL drug test and would be suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season. Carroll released White on May 28, 2010.
. However, on September 2, in the Broncos' last preseason game at the Minnesota Vikings
, White suffered a torn Achilles tendon
, and missed the entire 2010 season. He was released on August 16, 2011.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Southern California.
He has also been a member of the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
and Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
White attended South High School in Denver, Colorado. White played the 2000 and 2001 seasons at Denver (Colo.) South High, where he made the Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado first team in 2000 and the Rocky Mountain News Class 5A All-State first team both years. White then enrolled at Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, Colorado. As a junior in 2002, he earned Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado first team and Rocky Mountain News Class 5A All-State first team notice. He rushed for 1,850 yards with 30 TDs, plus had 185 receiving yards with 2 TDs in 2001. Chatfield went 14-0 in 2002 and was the Class 5A champion. His coach at Chatfield was Dave LoganDave Logan (American football)
David Russell Logan is a former American football player. Logan played in nine National Football League seasons from 1976 to 1984, primarily for the Cleveland Browns...
, the former Colorado All-American wide receiver who played in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns.
His 2002 honors included Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Tom Lemming All-American, Super Prep Elite 50, Tom Lemming Top 100, Super Prep All-Midlands, Prep Star All-Midlands, Tom Lemming All-Midland, Orange County Register Fab 15 second team, Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year, Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado first team and Rocky Mountain News Class 5A All-State first team as a senior tailback at Chatfield High in Littleton (Colo.). He ran for 1,683 yards and 20 TDs in 2003. He played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
with several of his future USC Trojan teammates.
He finished his career (starting all 4 years) as Colorado's career rushing leader, with 7,804 yards.
College career
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
with Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. Despite being the lesser hyped member of the Trojan backfield, White was a standout rusher who led the team in rushing in his first two seasons and was a 2005 All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection.
White and Bush formed a 'Thunder and Lightning' combination, with Bush playing the smaller but faster back while White was the bigger, more powerful back. This combination gave USC a formidable backfield of rushers. On Jan. 4, 2005, White rushed for three touchdowns in a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the 2004 BCS National Championship game played at Orange Bowl (Pro Player Stadium) in Miami. A year later, on Jan. 4, 2006, White again rushed for three touchdowns in USC's 41-38 loss to Texas in the 2005 BCS Championship Game played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. In his three years, White set the USC career rushing touchdowns record of 52. He also finished with 3,159 yards and a 5.9 average per rush. White was not implicated in the Bush scandal. After the 2006 Rose Bowl
2006 Rose Bowl
The 2006 Rose Bowl Game, played on January 4, 2006, was a football game that served as the national championship of the 2005-2006 Bowl Championship Series...
, White declared himself eligible for the NFL draft.
2006 NFL draft
Promptly after declaring for the NFL draft, White's stock tumbled. White did not go through a full workout before NFL scouts at the NFL Combine. Reportedly, there were audible groans when he bared his chest at a weigh-in. One scout was said to have laughed upon seeing White's bare chest. ESPN's Fantasy Focus Podcast referred to him as "Big Fat LenDale White." This also spawned another nickname: "LenWhale" White. As one NFL general manager said after seeing White at the combine: “The guy needed a bra, it was ridiculous. You come to the combine looking like that and you want to be a first-round pick? Come on. The guy had obviously been doing nothing.”During USC's workout day, he cited hamstring worries as a reason for not running or performing any workouts aside from the bench press, where he managed only 15 repetitions at 225 pounds. An out of shape White did sustain a torn hamstring, but surgery was not required to mend it. His injury did, however, keep him off of the football field until May, 2006.
In April, White was drafted in the second round (45th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
by the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
.
NFL career
On August 10, 2006, during a Titans' practice, White was involved in a brief scuffle with teammate Donnie NickeyDonnie Nickey
Donnie Orvin Nickey is an American football safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Titans in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State....
, where White spat in Nickey's face, drawing the ire of his Tennessee teammates.
On the field, White was used sparingly in his rookie season. He played in 13 games, gaining 244 yards on 61 carries with no touchdowns. White also caught 14 passes for 60 yards.
White began the 2007-2008 season splitting time with Chris Brown
Chris Brown (American football)
Christopher Rejean Brown is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
. He was held for under 60 yards in the first four games. On October 21, with Brown sidelined with an injury, White tallied his first 100 yard rushing game against the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He followed up that performance with a career high 133 yard rushing performance against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Through 16 weeks he rushed for 1,110 yards and 7 touchdowns with a 3.7 yard average.
White underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. The knee had bothered White during the last half of the 2007 season, but he was expected to be at full strength for offseason minicamps in May.
On March 15, 2008, White received citations for destruction of property, disobedience to a lawful order/interference and resistance while in Denver, Colorado, though all charges were later dropped.
White was joined in the Titans backfield by rookie Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson (running back)
Christopher Duan Johnson is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League...
, who was selected with the 24th pick in the 2008 draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. The duo eventually became known as "Smash and Dash"
White had career highs in TD's in a season (15), longest run (80 yards), TD's in 1 game (3) and rushing yards in a game (149). He also created controversy after the Titans defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
by stomping on a Terrible Towel
Terrible Towel
The Terrible Towel is a rally towel associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team in the National Football League . Created in 1975 by then Steelers radio broadcaster Myron Cope, The Terrible Towel has spread in popularity; fans take their Towel to famous sites while on vacation...
White finished the 2008 season with 773 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns (1st in AFC).
White lost significant weight prior to the 2009 NFL season, dropping to 229, claming a tougher training regiment and cutting tequila
Tequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
out of his diet aided in his weight loss. After splitting carries with Johnson in 2008, White was virtually a non-factor in 2009 as Johnson became the featured back.
White was re-signed by the Titans on April 15, 2010.
Seattle Seahawks
White was traded to the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
on April 24, 2010. The trade reunited White and his former USC Trojans head coach Pete Carroll. Shortly after signing, word leaked that White had failed an NFL drug test and would be suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season. Carroll released White on May 28, 2010.
Denver Broncos
On August 4, 2010, White was signed to a two-year deal by the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. However, on September 2, in the Broncos' last preseason game at the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, White suffered a torn Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
, and missed the entire 2010 season. He was released on August 16, 2011.