Behind the Facemask: Cory White
June 12, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla.–They want to tell their story. They want you – their loyal fans – to get to know them better. Over the next two months, HurricaneSports.com will continue the unique journey into the lives of each and every one of Al Golden’s Hurricanes.
Cory White | Tight End | Sophomore | Orange Park, Fla.
I secretly wish that I were a little bit taller, so I could play DI basketball as a power forward. Basketball was my first love. You always had to be a certain age to play football, but basketball was always safe. Ever since I can remember, a basketball has been in my hand.
I didn’t think I would be playing DI sports. Back in high school, I was always taller, but I never had the weight. My senior year, I decided to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I had about 12 or so a day at the most, and I started to gain weight. My mom was mad with how much bread she had to buy each week, but I said, “Mom, do you want to buy a loaf of bread every day or do you want to pay for my college?” Loaf of bread won out (laughs).
Playing football has given me life lessons. Everything from my work-ethic to being punctual and managing time. Football has taught me really good life lessons.
Competition is also a very unique trait of mine. Ever since I was little, I’ve always been a competitor. From playing video games with my brother to being on the field with great football players, I’ve always tried to be the best.
My first two years here I was playing tackle, and it really didn’t feel right, not being 300 pounds and all. Don’t get me wrong, I held my own and everything, and I even won Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year. But tight end is definitely my position.
You have to be a hybrid. You’re not as big as a lineman, but you have to block like it. You’re not as small as a receiver, but you have to catch like it. It’s perfect for me and my body size.
I’ll never forget my pops coaching me. He’s been there every step of the way. Everything that I have, I owe to him. He comes to all the home games, tries to make it to every away game that he can. He just retired, so he’s been calling me everyday, telling me which hotels he’s booked and what games he’ll be at. He’s real excited for Ohio State.
When I was six years old I loved sports. I’ve been around sports ever since I can remember. I was playing flag football back then.
Everybody can criticize a player, but only the coaches really know their inner ability. They know who that kid is, what he can do. People on the computer can criticize all they want, but when it comes down to it, the coaches are the only ones who know.
We are all a family at the U. We see each other everyday, from class to dorms to weightlifting to running to meetings to film. All these guys are my brothers.
I was raised to be very humble, by both my mother and father. I was always raised to say “please” and “thank you.” I see that as a main reason why I’ve been able to succeed in life so far. I always hold the door for a lady, things like that; they get you so much further in life.
I want to leave my own legacy at the U. I want to be the best tight end that’s ever came out of here. You have to leave the legacy, so someone can follow you.
Coach Carroll is a cool dude. He’s one of the guys. He knows how to talk to you and how to coach you. He’s a younger coach, and he played at DI football team, so he knows what it’s like. It’s not like it’s someone who hasn’t played before. He’s been through it, and he knows.
The hardest part of school is being committed to your schoolwork. When you’re in college, there’s a big load on you, and you have to know how to manage your time. I think that’s the hardest part, managing your time. From weightlifting to meetings to waking up at 5:30 in the morning. When you first get here, managing your time and learning how to do that, that’s the hard part.
I was born on Langley Air Force Base in Virginia Beach, Virginia. My father was a big-time military man, so we always moved around. I have lived in Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Texas, and then back to Florida.
I definitely knew I wanted to play sports in college. I never really thought I had the size. My junior year the team was weightlifting and a former player on the team came back. He saw a lot of potential in me; he told me if I wanted to be playing sports I need to put on some weight. He knew for tight end, you can’t play weighing 185 or 190. That day, I took it upon myself to gain the weight, eating up to 10 PB&J’s a day throughout classes, all day long, and I gained 40 or 45 pounds.
It’s finally my chance. I’ve always had it in me, like I said, in high school I played tight end and I’ve never really drifted away from it. Even at tackle, I always used my tight end skills, blocking wise, using my hands and all that. For me, the transition from tackle to tight end has been easy.
I have a little brother, he’s 15. He’s a surfer and a guitar player, so he and I are totally opposite (laughs). I’m going to be behind him every step of the way, with every decision he makes. At first it kind of hurt me, with me being the athlete in the family, I always wanted him to play sports too. I understand how life works though, and if he enjoys surfing and guitar, which I do too, and if that’s what he wants to pursue, then I’m happy for him.
The U means everything to me, from family to working hard to dedication. The U is everything.
Make sure to check in for a new Behind the Facemask profile each and everyday in preparation for the Hurricane football season opener. For a review of all past profiles, check out Behind the Facemask Central.
