Radio Rundown: Getting to know Nebraska DC Tony White

Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White stopped by Sports Nightly recently for an introductory interview. The Florida native shed some light on the characteristics of his 3-3-5 defense and recounted his past with Husker head coach Matt Rhule.

Here’s what the 2022 Broyles Award nominee had to say on the Huskers Radio Network.

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The early going in Lincoln

***White has been at Nebraska for less than a month, but he said the encouragement from the fanbase has made an impact in a short period of time.

“You always hear about the support and everything going on in Lincoln, and I tell you what, it’s almost overwhelming,” White said. “This is a historic place and the people will make it special.”

***White said there has to be a number of factors that come together to leave a position like he had at Syracuse. First, he credited his players for putting him in a place to take jobs elsewhere. But White said there was never an offer he couldn’t pass up.

“I’m talking about overall in terms of the family atmosphere, in terms of who you’re going to work with, in terms of the tradition of the place,” White said.

Then Rhule offered White a position at Nebraska. The 43-year-old discussed the opportunity with his family and said his wife immediately started looking at houses. White knew what Rhule brings to the table, got to see the facilities and meet some of Nebraska’s players. There were personal feelings, too.

“A lot of times it’s about your experiences growing up,” White said. “When I was playing ball, in middle school and high school, Nebraska was college football. That’s always been etched in my head.”

The stars aligned and White took the job.

***White said he and Rhule crossed paths during the 2000-01 season. White was a linebacker with UCLA where he totaled nearly 200 tackles over the course of his career. Rhule entered the picture as a graduate assistant.

The two kept in contact and would text while they climbed the coaching ladder.

“When he brought me up for the interviews he’s like, ‘Tone, I’ve known you since 2000 man. Let’s see if we can make this work,'” White said. “I’m just lucky he entrusted me with the defense.”

White talks scheme

***White said the principles of his defense date back to his time at San Diego State. There, under head coach Rocky Long, a number of 3-3-5 coaches cut their teeth. Among them are New Mexico head coach Danny Gonzales and Zach Arnett of Mississippi State, who took over for the late Mike Leach.

White summarized his style in one sentance.

“It’s a defense that finds answers,” he said.

White said sometimes defensive coordinators become enamored with a base defense that has certain problems a foe can exploit. Those problems often have to be overlooked in favor of falling back on someone making a play according to White. The versatility of the 3-3-5 allows a DC to counter some of those shortcomings.

“It allows the play-caller to try to find answers,” White said. “Hey I called this and this didn’t work. Guess what? We’re not calling that again and we’re going to try something else.”

***White said he is excited for the challenge of coaching in the Big Ten. It’s a conference that is growing to fit his defensive style. White said Rhule gave him a study that showed 11 personnel is the most common grouping in the Big Ten. With the additions of USC and UCLA on the horizon, a proclivity to spread formations will likely grow according to White.

He made it clear the Big Ten is one of the places to be.

“The Big Ten and the SEC are branching off and they’re taking off,” White said. “To be part of something like that and see things at the highest level, I think that’s important.”

Now the real work begins

***White said he has already spoken with several Nebraska defenders. Javier Morton and Javin Wright he specifically mentioned. White was pleased with what he found.

“You meet the guys, and they’re humble, they’re about work and they didn’t seem like they’re a bunch of bad guys,” White said. “Usually when you walk into a place, they’re not good, something is terribly wrong and you want to change it.”

“When you put on the tape and you look, I told those guys that I met with that there’s some quality young men in this program There’s some athletic young men in this program. So it’s just a matter of putting it together.”

***White said Nebraska should be able to compete for any recruit it wants. But, now the attention turns form the 2023 class to those already on the roster.

“You’ve got to take care of the guys here,” White said. “You’ve got to make time to see them and let them know they’re wanted and needed.”

Next on the checklist is completing the coaching staff. That doesn’t just include new hires. White said coaches have families all across the country, there are houses for sale and homes to be bought in Lincoln. Once that’s accomplished and the break is over, it’s time to get to work.

“That way our chemistry is right and we’re all on the same page,” White said. “That way we can preach being together and having the right chemistry. It starts with us.”