Senior Gameday Program Feature - Darius White
9/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Darius White
By R.J. Layton, Mizzou Strategic Communications
Mizzou wide receiver Darius White has spent his college career waiting for an opportunity. After spending two years at Texas, he transferred to Missouri to make the most out of his college experience. Now a senior in his final year of eligibility, White's patience and hard work has paid off.
White earned his first career start in the Tigers' opening game of the 2014 campaign. On the third play from scrimmage, the veteran hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass for Mizzou's first score of the season. White went on to record a career-high 83 yards receiving to lead the team.
Through the Tigers' first two games, White has established himself as one of quarterback Maty Mauk's most reliable targets. Yet, the senior is still not satisfied.
"It's an amazing feeling but I'm not really where I want to be," White said. "I want to improve every week and every day. But it's great to see all the hard work we have been putting in since the Cotton Bowl really paying off. I believe this is going to be a tremendous season."
White's passion for football did not surface the typical way, despite being raised in the heart of Texas. He actually grew up loving the game of basketball. It was not until high school that White made the decision to focus on football full time.
Throughout his development as a student and as an athlete, White credits his success to his mother and his local Boys & Girls Club for the support growing up. White says his mom dedicated years of her to life to raising him and his two younger brothers, who are both playing football themselves.
"My mother has been there for my whole life, never missing a game," White said. "My mom is my biggest fan and I really appreciate her for that. She's been there to keep my brothers and I on the right path."
White dominated on the field in high school, racking up 2,293 yards receiving and 35 touchdowns in his final three seasons. He was ranked as the No. 3 wide receiver in the nation by ESPN before committing to Texas.
The talented prospect saw action in 21 games as a Longhorn. Following the 2011 season, White decided to transfer to Mizzou. He says being a Tiger has simply been a valuable learning experience.
"I've learned nothing is handed to you at all," White said. "Mizzou has taught me patience and how to be a more responsible person. And that if I wait for my opportunity, when it comes, they'll put you in the right place at the right time."
White says it was important to use his first two years in Columbia learning from the gifted crop of wide receivers ahead of him like Marcus Lucas, L'Damian Washington and fellow senior Bud Sasser.
"Those guys sat down, talked to me and helped me learn the whole offense," White said. "It's been very helpful to me because sitting behind last year, that was nothing but another experience of being patient."
All the waiting is finally over for White. The standout senior has seven catches through the Tigers' first two games, which is more than all of last season. White says his goals for 2014 do not have anything to do with stats or accolades.
"I just want to be a great teammate and be accountable," White said. "I want to go out and be a playmaker and help my team out in any way that I can."
Upon graduation, White has ambitions of playing in the NFL or coaching basketball or football. No matter what, White says he plans on opening up his own Boys & Girls Club so that kids can have a safe and supportive place to go, just like he and his brothers did growing up.
