Alabama ATH Edwin White details decision to commit to Vols
Edwin White made his return to Rocky Top for the first time in nearly a year, and the Alabama athlete headed home as the newest 2021 Tennessee commit.
White gave his public pledge to the Vols on Saturday during the a big Junior Day weekend that has UT hosting more than 25 underclassmen targets, choosing Tennessee over Kansas and South Florida.
“I just felt loyalty from the coaches. It’s a good community, felt like family,” White said on his decision.
The 3-star athlete visited the Vols twice previously, and the 6-foot, 196-pound athlete, who projects as a safety in college, picked up his original offer from Tennessee back in December of 2017. The Mobile native has an exciting relationship with wideouts coach Tee Martin, a fellow “Mob” native.
“I love coach Martin,” he said. “He’s from the Mob. We have a good, tight connection. He knows some of my family on my dad’s side. We had lots of conversations outside of football. Not everything is about football, football, football.”
White, who attended a junior day last March, got a longer look at the university Saturday, learning more history about the school and getting an extended tour of the academic and athletic facilities. He also spent time with Jeremy Pruitt 1-on-1, joking that that Tennessee’s head coach is “a cool dude. He don’t show no emotion. It’s kinda weird.”
“He’s cool, calm and collected,” White said, laughing.
As a junior on a state championship team for UMS-Wright Preparatory School, White stuffed the stat sheet with 87 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and a sack. The playmaking safety was constantly around the football, adding nine interceptions, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal.
“Tennessee thinks I can really help the defense. They’re looking for talent like (mine). I’m rangy on the backend, and can defend half the field,” he said.
“(Coach Pruitt) likes defensive backs. They think I have good hands, they like how I come up and tackle and have good speed.”
Asked what Pruitt’s message was to him at the end of the visit, White said, “They told me they want me on their team.”