Chicago Bears Draft Profiles: Kevin White

Welcome to the first of three parts of my draft profiles for the Chicago Bears in this year’s draft. This series will talk about the three players–one per article–that I believe are the best fit for the Bears to take with the seventh overall pick, followed subsequently by a full, seven-round Chicago Bears mock draft. Part one will breakdown one of the most dynamic skill players in this draft, Kevin White.

White hails from West Virginia University, and is considered one of the top receivers in the draft alongside Alabama receiver Amari Cooper. White transferred to WVU from Lackawanna College–a school that sits just over an hour’s drive away from his high school in Emmaus, Penn.– for his junior year and put up two very different years, from a production standpoint.

White’s first season in Morgantown was rough for both him and the Mountaineers, as he only caught 35 passes in 11 games for a four-win West Virginia team that finished 108th in passing offense in 2013.

Only one year after finishing outside the top 100 in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in both receptions and receiving yards, White broke out for 109 receptions and 1,447 yards in 2014, taking responsibility for almost half of the Mountaineers’ entire passing yards for the season (3,006, 73rd in FBS).

Oct 18, 2014; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Kevin White (11) leaps to make a catch during the fourth quarter against the Baylor Bears at Milan Puskar Stadium. West Virginia Mountaineers defeated Baylor Bears 41-27. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

White ended up finishing the season with the third-most receptions and the eighth-most yards in the FBS, and caught a touchdown in all but four games for a much improved 7-6 West Virginia team.

White’s season was highlighted by his performance in a 40-37 early-season win against Maryland, in which he caught 13 passes for a whopping 216 yards and a touchdown. In this game, he even caught an estimated 45-yard pass with two defenders on him. This play showcased both his high-pointing and ball-tracking ability, as he out-rebounded the two helpless defensive backs.

White would fill a huge void at wide receiver to pair with the Bears’ star receiver Alshon Jeffery, as Chicago has essentially no threat at the position excluding Jeffery. At 6″2′ and 215 pounds, White has good size for a receiver that complemented by his staggering 4.35 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine. He also tied for the best bench press among receivers at this year’s combine with 23 reps.

White’s combination of size and strength are rare at the receiver position, and he has the ball skills to help utilize his physical assets to the fullest potential. The tape shows that he puts himself in prime position to get the ball at the highest point and possesses the ball out in front of his body almost every time. He’s also a very hard man to tackle, keeping his feet moving until he can’t possibly move them anymore.

White has also showed proficiency in tracking down long throws–especially over the shoulder–making him a consistent long-ball threat. He is very dangerous in the open field and can do a lot with the football in his hands on slants and other short throws. The main thing White does that many receivers fail to do is running north and south right after the catch, doing so regularly.

White’s durability is an added bonus to his already impressive résumé, as he only missed one game in his entire West Virginia career. He also has no history of off-field issues, and has been noted as a very coachable receiver.

With Cooper most likely off the board by the time the Bears are on the clock, White is the best option at receiver. White’s presence on the field will take a lot of pressure off of Jeffrey and will make it much easier for quarterback Jay Cutler to find open receivers on a consistent basis. Plus, White is one hell of an upgrade from Marqueess Wilson.

Next: Chicago Bears: Is Marcus Mariota the Answer?

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