VERMILLION, S.D. (AUGUST 7, 2001) - The speed and quickness that Jamel White used to burn defenses in the North Central Conference two years ago is turning heads in the National Football League. Entering his second year in the NFL, White continues to progress while impressing those playing, coaching or watching him.
White, who resides in Vermillion, S.D., has caught the attention of his Cleveland Browns' coaches and teammates as well as members of the media. Several articles have been written about the back-up running back and kick return specialist following the opening of the Cleveland Browns fall preseason camp this August.
A year ago, White enjoyed success in the Indianapolis Colts fall camp before being a late cut. The Cleveland Browns did not let White wait for a call very long and signed him almost immediately after the Colts let him go. White did not disappoint the Browns' brass. In 13 games for the Browns, White rushed 47 times for 145 yards and caught 13 passes for 100 yards. He also returned 43 kickoffs for a 21.7 average and a long of 40 yards. He had a career-high 12 carries for 37 yards and three receptions for 22 yards in the Browns 19-11 win over New England on Nov. 12. He had six returns for 140 yards against Philadelphia on Dec. 10. He also recorded a tackle in game nine against Cincinnati.
As the 2001 preseason camp opened, White continued to show progress by exhibiting the running and receiving ability that made him an all-American at South Dakota. Stories about White have appeared in the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal, CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM web site and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Zac Jackson of CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM reported that White accounted for 53 yards and a touchdown as the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills first units played to a 1-1 tie in a scrimmage at Edinboro, Pa. on August 4. The format of the scrimmage included allowing each team 12 plays to score starting at their own 35 yard line under the standard first down and 10 format. White was put on the first team during the team's fourth offensive series and he put on an outstanding display. He had an 18-yard catch and run and a 15-yard reception on the ensuing play. Three plays later, he took a middle screen for 17 yards into the red zone at the Buffalo 19-yard line. One play later, White scored from one yard out.
"(Jamel) speeds the game up," Browns offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was quoted by Jackson. "He is very dangerous every time he touches the football. He can hurt you in a lot of different ways and he is extremely exciting," said Arians.
In that article, White said he has been waiting for his opportunity. "And when your opportunity comes, you do the best you can with it. I like to make people miss and do it all - run the ball, catch the ball - everything. I am just here to make plays when they need me to." Head Coach Butch Davis added: "With Jamel (White) and James Jackson, they really dialed it up. There's definitely some electricity when those guys are carrying the ball.,"
Cleveland Plain Dealer, reporter Mary Kay Cabot also wrote about the play of White vs. the Bills. Cabot referred to White as the "Track Meet," noting that White is turning heads in the preseason. "He's dangerous every time he touches the ball. We can spread the field and use him in a lot of different ways," Arians told Cabot.
Interestingly, White was with Arians last season in Indianapolis before being released in the final cut. After one series with the first team offense on August 4, starting quarterback Tim Couch said White deserved more playing time. "I was really impressed with Jamel," Couch told Cabot. "He basically took it down the field on a couple of passes and a couple of runs and he really looked good. He was aggressive running the ball - he was cutting back across the field, trying to get all he could out of the play," he said.
Couch also noted that White provided a sneak preview of how the Cleveland offense can work. "When you have got the running game going, Jamel is running around the end, then you throw him a couple of screens, you throw him a couple of flat routes and he turns it up and makes stuff go. That's the kind of thing we want to do - throw short and run long and keep the chains moving," added Couch.
"I like to make people miss," White told Cabot. "I'm not that big back that can run people over all the time but I will give it to somebody if they get in my way," said White, who was a back up to Travis Prentice a year ago. White noted that he has an advantage because he knows the offense as he learned it a year ago at the Indianapolis Colts preseason camp where Arians was then coaching. White told Cabot that he worked out hard in the weight room during the off season. He spent much of last season as Errict Rhett's protg, said Cabot, but when Rhett was waived, White took Rhett's #23. He wore #30 a year ago. "He (Rhett) taught me so much about the game and was such a good friend. I am trying to represent him well," White told Cabot.
White was a first-team all-NCC and second team all-American selection for the Coyotes in 1999, where he set or tied 14 school records. At South Dakota, White rushed for 1,796 yards and scored 24 touchdowns. He was the NCC leader in all-purpose yards with 2,403 and caught 41 passes for 607 yards.
NOTES ON CHATHAM AND STAMER: Besides White, two other former Coyotes are in NFL camps this season. A year ago, Matt Chatham, formerly of Sioux City, Iowa, signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots. Chatham, a linebacker who wears #58, had two tackles on special teams for the Patriots during the 2000 season. Today (August 8) at the Patriots 2001 fall preseason training camp, head coach Bill Belichek was asked specifically (by the Boston Globe) about Matt Chatham and how he is faring in the Patriots' training camp. "Coach Belichek spoke highly of Chatham and that he is competing very well with two veterans at the outside linebacker position," said Stacey James, the public relations director for the New England Patriots, during a phone interview August 8.
The St. Louis Rams originally signed Chatham and after he was cut late in the 2000 preseason, the Patriots picked him up on waivers. At South Dakota, Chatham totaled 74 tackles including 41 solo stops and an interception as a senior. He earned second team all-NCC and academic all-NCC honors as a junior when he had 95 tackles and six interceptions. His brother Dan is a linebacker for the Coyotes.
Josh Stamer, who led the NCC in 2000 with 21 tackles for loss, signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants on April 27, 2001. Stamer, who is wearing #64, was an honorable mention all-American linebacker in 2000 for the Coyotes. In his career, Stamer had 90 unassisted tackles to go with 152 total tackles. He had 36 tackles for loss and 15.5 quarterback sacks along with three fumble recoveries, three interceptions including a defensive touchdown. As a senior, he led South Dakota with 72 tackles including 45 solo stops and six sacks. Originally of Sutherland, Iowa, he graduated with a 3.667 grade point average in accounting during spring 2001.
