Freeman White facts for kids
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White (No. 85) from 1965 Cornhusker
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| No. 81, 76 | |
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| Position: | Defensive back, linebacker, tight end |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | December 17, 1943 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Chadsey (Detroit, Michigan) |
| College: | Nebraska (1962–1965) |
| NFL Draft: | 1966 / Round: 9 / Pick: 132 |
| AFL draft: | 1966 / Round: 2 / Pick: 11 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Player stats at PFR | |
Freeman White II, born on December 17, 1943, is a former American football player. He played for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. Before that, he was a star college football player for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In 1965, he was even named an All-American, one of the best college players in the country. White also played in Canada for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Freeman White II was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 17, 1943. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where he went to Chadsey High School. While there, he became an amazing athlete.
White earned "all-state" honors for his skills in high school football. He was also a star in other sports. He played football for four years and basketball for four years. He also played baseball for three years and ran track for three years.
College Football Career
White played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He was part of the team from 1962 to 1965. In 1962, he played on the freshman team. From 1963 to 1965, he was a key player on the main team.
In 1963, White caught two passes for 24 yards. The next year, 1964, was a breakout season for him. He caught 17 passes for 338 yards and scored two touchdowns. This earned him first-team All-Big Eight Conference honors from both the Associated Press and United Press International. His 338 receiving yards were the most in the Big Eight Conference that year.
Becoming an All-American
White's senior year in 1965 was even better. He caught 28 passes for 458 yards and scored six touchdowns. This amazing performance earned him All-American recognition. It also made him a first-team All-Big Eight player again.
He led the Big Eight Conference in two important categories that year. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch and had six receiving touchdowns. His 28 catches and 458 receiving yards both set new school records for Nebraska.
White also set single-game school records during his senior year. He caught eight passes in a game against TCU. He also gained 139 receiving yards in a game against Colorado. By the end of his college career, he held school records for most career catches (47) and receiving yards (820).
In 1982, Freeman White was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
After college, Freeman White was a highly sought-after player. In the 1966 NFL draft, the New York Giants picked him in the ninth round. The Denver Broncos also drafted him in the second round of the 1966 AFL draft. White decided to sign with the New York Giants.
Playing for the New York Giants
White played for the Giants for four seasons, from 1966 to 1969. In his first year, 1966, he played in all 14 games. He started four games, mostly as a linebacker. He recorded one sack and returned two kicks for 14 yards.
In 1967, White changed positions to safety. He played in 14 games and started six of them. He made two interceptions, gaining 53 yards, and recovered one fumble. He continued to play in 14 games in 1968, starting one.
For the 1969 season, White switched positions again, this time to tight end. He caught 29 passes for 315 yards and scored one touchdown. The Giants released him from the team on September 8, 1970.
Playing in Canada
After his time with the Giants, White moved to Canada. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1970. As an offensive end, he played in seven games. He caught seven passes for 148 yards during his time with the Rough Riders.
