A fluid and explosive pass-catcher, UNLV’s Ricky White has evolved into one of the most intriguing prospects out of the Mountain West. A transfer from Michigan State prior to the 2022 campaign, the 6-foot-1 White hasn’t only found a home at UNLV, he found a place where his skill set could improve and thrive to where we are today, where White has become one of the most feared receivers in all of college football.
A focal point of the Rebels’ offensive resurgence under head coach Barry Odom, White has become an elite three-level threat. From his route-running and knack for creating separation, combined with his physicality, White enters the Mountain West title game with more than 1,000 yards receiving to his name after eclipsing the same plateau last fall.
While White, to the public eye, remains a highly projectable piece that may hear his name called in the early portions of day three, recent conversations have been of the opposite trend. His size and production have teams pushing him higher up boards inside a class with seemingly no separation of tiers. Another talking point for scouts has been his versatility. White is capable of lining up outside or in the slot, making him a fit in various offensive architectures. To elevate his stock, more refinement is needed in his release package and at the top of his stems, but the tools and traits that often remain as buzzwords this time of year absolutely fit the description of White.
This takes us to Friday, where White and the Rebels face Heisman candidate Ashton Jeanty and Boise State in the Mountain West Championship—a pivotal moment for UNLV in their first-ever title game appearance, and for White’s concurrent draft stock. The Broncos’ defense, known for a physical secondary, provides an excellent test for White to prove his ability to dominate under the brightest of spotlights. A standout performance against the likes of A’Marion McCoy, one of the draft’s biggest sleepers at the corner position, on a big stage could solidify his stock as the draft process picks up. And in a new-look 12-team CFP, who knows how wild and wacky the rankings could get should the Rebels trump the Broncos?
For White, pass-catchers that can separate always have a home. Whether it’s as a core contributor, or rotationally, players who understand how to create throwing windows simply don’t have a tough time finding work. On Friday, while much of the attention will center around Jeanty’s first-round buzz and Heisman candidacy, a reminder to keep an on White, a heck of a ballplayer in his own right who will be featured early and often in the UNLV aerial attack.
