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The Numbers
- 46 tackles
- 2.5 TFL
- 0.5 sacks
As we’ve learned early in the Luke Fickell era, recruiting is going to be a real priority for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Jarell White was a big part of Fickell’s first recruiting class and he quickly became a big part of the team as well.
The former four-star recruit from Cincinnati didn’t get all that much playing time early on. That wasn’t all that unexpected considering he was a freshman, albeit a very talented and heavily coveted one on the recruiting trail.
As the season progressed, White worked his way from rotational linebacker to starter and the results were pretty great. He finished the year with 46 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a half sack. He ranked eighth on the team in tackles, ahead of such prominent players like Tyrell Gilbert and Cortez Broughton.
By season’s end, White had established himself as a permanent fixture on the UC defense, accumulating 29 tackles in the last three games.
The Best of the Best
Sept. 30 vs. Marshall
This was the first game in which White made a major impact. He finished with seven tackles, including one for a loss.
Nov. 10 vs. Temple
For the first time in his admittedly short career, White produced a double-digit total in tackles (10).
Nov. 18 at East Carolina
Although he did not reach 10 tackles again, White did have one stop for loss in a losing effort for the Bearcats.
Nov. 25 vs. UConn
In a thrilling end to the regular season, White helped the Bearcats go out on a high note, securing a career-high 11 tackles along with a half sack.
For Next Year
White has already shown the work ethic and on-field success it takes to be a starter at the collegiate level. He was pegged as a future difference maker for the program right when he signed but that future came a little bit sooner than even the most ardent supporters might have thought. For next year, he could really help the defense by developing his pass rush skills, which are already fairly strong, even if he only had a half sack. Conditioning will also be important as he will undoubtedly take on a full starter’s workload.