Published: May 12, 2008 11:21 pm         

White only quarterback on Playboy All-America team

MORGANTOWN — Patrick White, West Virginia University’s highly rated quarterback, already has begun adding to his lengthy collection of honors for the 2008 season.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior from Daphne, Ala., has been named to the 52nd annual Playboy All-America football preseason team. It was made public on Monday after White and others selected were treated by the magazine to a weekend of relaxation at the Hilton Pointe Resort in Phoenix, Ariz.

To be the only quarterback chosen by Playboy admittedly is cherished by the two-time Big East Offensive Player of the Year. He’s a two-time winner of the state’s Amateur Athlete of the Year also was voted by Alabama sports writers as Amateur Athlete of the Year in that state in 2007.

“This definitely is one of the highlights of my career to this point,” White said. “I can’t give my parents, coaches and teammates enough credit because without them, none of these awards would be possible.”

Other major awards included Offensive MVP of the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and of the 2007 Gator Bowl.

He is happy to have had what he modestly considers “a small part” in the Mountaineers’ smashing success the past three seasons.

WVU won 11 games each of those years for the first time in history and earned at least a share of the conference championship and finished ranked in the Top 10 nationally.

Bill Stewart, who coached White before becoming head coach last Jan. 3, is happy for his proud protégé. “Pat White is the greatest winner in college football — period,” he said. “He works hard and continually wants to improve himself and his teammates.

“He has led us to three straight bowl game wins... I am proud of him, and he deserves any honors that come his way.”

White completed 144 of 216 passes for 1,724 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He also ran for a team-high 1,335 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing.

For his three seasons. White is the all-time Big East career leader in rushing yardage by a quarterback (3,356 yards). He needs 934 more yards to pass Missouri’s Brad Smith, who’s the all-time NCAA career leader.

“My goal in my senior season is to continue furthering the success of our team,” White said.

He is the eighth WVU player to receive Playboy All-America status and the third in as many years. Tailback Steve Slaton was selected last year and center Dan Mozes in 2006.

The others were middle guard Carl Crennel (1969), place-kicker Paul Woodside (1983), offensive lineman (1985), quarterback Major Harris (1989), and center Mike Compton (1992). Offensive lineman Eric de Groh (1998) and linebacker Jay Henry (2006) were named Academic All-America performers by that magazine.

Don Nehlen was named head coach of Playboy’s 1989 All-America team. He had guided his team the previous year to the school’s first undefeated season.

One of White’s biggest boosters is Gil Brandt, for 20 years vice-president of the Dallas Cowboys and now a writer for NFL.com. “Pat White is very impressive as a football player and as a person,” he said. “He is a quiet person who has an impressive amount of ability.”