Pulaski Academy receiver John David White has a chance to continue the family tradition of attending the University of Arkansas after receiving a preferred walk-on offer from the Hogs.
He learned of the offer from tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. on Wednesday afternoon.
“My heart literally skipped like ten beats,” White said. “I was extremely excited and honored to receive that from them and to know that all my hard work has finally earned me an offer from the Razorbacks.”
White, 5-11, 175, 4.50 seconds in the 40 yard dash, has scholarship offers from Tennessee-Martin, Air Force and Ouachita Baptist along with other preferred walk-on offers from Kentucky and Arkansas State.
His family is full of Razorbacks. His great-grandfather Harold “Greasy” Rees played football for the Hogs, his grandfather John Rees played receiver from 1968-70, his uncle John Aaron Rees played from 2005-2008 and his father, David, played golf at Arkansas in the early 1990s.
The offer from the Hogs was a big day for him and his family.
“It meant a lot to them knowing that I have the opportunity to play for their alma mater,” said White, who has a 4.0 grade point average. “They were all texting me today saying, like, 'Woo Pig,' and how excited they were for me.”
White, who received an invite on Thursday to play the Blue-Gray All American Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 5, thanked Lunney for the opportunity to be a Razorback.
“I thanked him and told him that I am so excited and honored to have been offered a preferred walk-on offer from them,” White said.
He has 51 receptions for 971 yards and 16 touchdowns in nine games for the Bruins this season. White has recorded a 3.93-second time in the shuttle and a 36.6-inch vertical.
He's excited he has the opportunity to continue to be a teammate with his best friend and Razorback tight end commitment Hudson Henry.
“At the end of the day we’ll see,” he said. “There’s a lot to consider, and Hudson is a factor. But wherever I land, Hudson and I will always be great friends and cheering for each other. That’s a bond that won’t be lost wherever we are.”