Opening day countdowns are great. So are player profiles. Here at Musket Fire, we decided to combine them and create a Week 1 countdown-oriented, jersey number-dictated player profile series. Yesterday we looked at No. 29 LeGarrette Blount, and the day before that it was No. 30 Duron Harmon. Because today marks 28 days until the New England Patriots open 2015, we are profiling No. 28, running back James White.
Selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, White essentially redshirted his rookie season. The Wisconsin product appeared in just three games, rushing the ball nine times for 38 yards and catching five passes for 23 yards.
Since Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen departed in free agency this spring, White has been working to become a main contributor in the Patriots’ backfield.
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Unfortunately for White, his best play seems to come in non-padded practice. He stood out at the beginning of training camp last summer, and he drew eyes in OTAs and during the first two days of training camp this year. But once the real contact started, White’s stock dropped.
Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald declared earlier this week that Brandon Bolden has taken charge in the competition for Vereen’s old role, surpassing an injured Travaris Cadet and White. Here’s what Guregian had to say about White:
"He’s dropped down ever since the pads came on, which is somewhat reminiscent of what happened to him last season."
Maybe playing with his old college teammate, the newly acquired Ryan Groy, will give White a boost.
It looks like James White will get to run behind an old friend during the #Patriots preseason. pic.twitter.com/vhmByT0atn
— Will D. (@WAD1980) August 10, 2015
As of right now, view White as a sure-fire shot to make the roster, but don’t expect him to see much more in the way of touches this season.
In case you missed them, here are the profiles for No. 31 Tarell Brown, No. 32 Devin McCourty, No. 33 Dion Lewis, No. 35 Jonas Gray, No. 36 Tyler Gaffney, No. 37 Jordan Richards, No. 38 Brandon Bolden, No. 39 Travaris Cadet, No. 41 Dekoda Watson, No. 42 Xzavier Dickson, No. 43 Nate Ebner, No. 44 Matthew Wells, No. 45 D.J. Lynch, No. 46 james Develin, No. 47 Michael Hoomanawanui, No. 48 Geneo Grissom, No. 49 Joe Cardona, No. 50 Rob Ninkovich, No. 51 Jerod Mayo and No. 52 Dane Fletcher.
Be sure to check back on Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we celebrate 27 days until Week 1 by profiling the owner of the No. 27 jersey, safety Tavon Wilson.