Nebraska DC Tony White seeking to instill passion, details '23 linebackers

Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White joined the Huskers Radio Network this week to make his first public comments since joining Matt Rhule’s staff.

White, in the midst of his 17th season as a coach, carries a noteworthy resume. His defenses at Syracuse finished inside the top 30 nationally in each of the past two seasons.

In his final two campaigns with the Orange, White’s unit held opponents to 20 or fewer points on 10 occasions. Prior to Syracuse, White spent time as the defensive backs coach and interim DC at Arizona State.

Here is a recap of what White had to say…

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The Blackshirts under White

***First and foremost, White made his reverence for Nebraska’s defensive tradition clear.

“When I was growing up with football, you didn’t talk about college football without mentioning Nebraska,” White said. “I mean, the Blackshirts, the national championships, just the way they played their brand of football. So, (the NU job) was something I felt like I couldn’t pass up.”

Revitalizing the Huskers’ heritage is obviously at the top of his list. White said there were plenty of resources to learn from in Lincoln, including AD Trev Alberts.

“I still got some studying to do, because I want to do this thing right,” White said. “I want to bring the tradition back the right way.”

***Development is another key building block for the Blackshirt defenses of the past.

White said it’s easy to become infatuated with stars or ratings, but that’s not how Nebraska was defined, in his mind. He said that the Huskers were founded on growing young athletes into better players and men by surrounding them with great resources.

“That’s 100% the most important thing,” White said.

Alignment and passion

To develop, a coaching staff needs alignment. That word has seen a fair bit of use in the four weeks since Rhule’s opening presser. White used it in specific reference to Rhule’s construction of the staff.

It’s important for the head coach’s relationship with university officials and for his relationship with assistants, too. White said the staff has alignment.

“You want everybody to see things the same way on the same page so that you can preach those things to the young men, and we can all go out there and do our jobs,” White said.

***When White considers a player, he seeks passion first.

“If you’re not juiced up, you’re not lively and you don’t play with no spirit, you’re just not gonna play here,” White said. “That’s not the way we do things.”

White said it’s one thing to go out and be an “X’s and O’s guy,” but the ‘N’ on the helmet and nameplate on the back of the jersey should bring more out of a player.

“You’re gonna love playing football, you’re gonna love where you’re at, you’re gonna love who you’re gonna be around, you’re gonna be a great teammate, and we’re gonna get after it,” White said.

Breaking down the incoming linebacker class

***Linebackers have a mold in White’s defense: Speed, physicality, and aggression.

White mentioned those as the three boxes he hopes to check. He said he watches tape to see if a prospect moves sideways or downhill. Then, as White gets to know a player and his profile, he searches for playmaking ability.

“We always have this saying that, on the chalkboard, the offense wins,” White said. “They’ve always got you blocked up on the chalkboard. But, somehow, someway, football players find a way to make a play.”

Dylan Rogers

***White said Dylan Rogers checks those boxes. In addition, White said the Cypress, Texas, native was a great young man from a good family with a multi-sport background.

“When you see him, he’s always smiling,” White said. “My first interaction with him on campus, he’s smiling. He loves this place and wants to be a Cornhusker.”

There’s a lot to like with Rogers’ 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame. White joked that he asked Rogers if he was a senior in college the first time they met.

“I gotta adjust my sights because I wasn’t dealing with these kind of guys before,” White said.

Eric Fields

***Eric Fields continues to get plenty of love from Nebraska’s coaching staff. He’s another speedy player that will fit into White’s defense.

“You watch him on tape and you realize he’s got twitch, he’s got explosion,” White said. “When you see him live, when you see him in person, you don’t realize how big he is.”

Fields is listed at 6-2, 195, and, like Rogers, is enamored with Nebraska, according to White. It’s clear the Huskers think they have a diamond in the rough in the Ardmore, Oklahoma, product. White said it was rare to see a guy as big and as fast as Fields, but still readily available.

“You have that combination with the speed, the aggression, his development going the right way, and you can see an all-conference type linebacker,” White said.

Chief Borders

***Lastly, White offered thoughts on transfer Chief Borders from Florida. White said he’s another high-intensity guy.

“When you meet him live, he is just a natural,” White said. “It’s like he’s living on Red Bull or something. He’s got so much energy, so much passion.”

Borders’ mother is a doctor, and White said he had Academic All-American intelligence. Borders also clears the speed, physicality, and aggression hurdles. Plus, White said he had experience at Florida that should make him ready to play.

“Talk about loving where you’re at,” White said. “With Chief, that’s a guy I’m looking forward to.”

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