Kyzir White
refer to caption
White in 2017
No. 7 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1996-03-24) March 24, 1996 (age 27)
Macungie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:234 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:Emmaus (Emmaus, Pennsylvania)
College:
NFL draft:2018 / Round: 4 / Pick: 119
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:478
Sacks:5.0
Forced fumbles:2
Pass deflections:20
Interceptions:5
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Kyzir Rasim White (born March 24, 1996) is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at West Virginia and was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft.[1]

Early years

White played high school football at Emmaus High School in Pennsylvania's highly-competitive East Penn Conference,[2] where his play was highlighted by MaxPreps and other outlets highlighting top high school prospects.[3]

College career

Following two years at Lackawanna College, White committed to West Virginia, passing on scholarship opportunities from Pittsburgh, Arizona State, Louisville, and Illinois.[4] In his career at West Virginia, he recorded 152 total tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, nine passes defended, and four forced fumbles.[5]

Professional career

External videos
video icon Kyzir White's NFL Combine Workout
video icon NFL Draft Profile: Kyzir White
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in
(1.88 m) 		218 lb
(99 kg) 		31+5⁄8 in
(0.80 m) 		10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		 4.69 s 1.55 s 2.67 s 4.26 s 6.96 s 35.5 in
(0.90 m)		 9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		 21 reps
All values from NFL Combine/West Virginia's Pro Day[6]

Los Angeles Chargers

2018

External videos
video icon "Chargers select Kyzir White at No. 119l

In the 2018 NFL Draft, White was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth round (119th overall).[7] White was the 11th safety drafted in 2018.[8]

On May 13, 2018, the Chargers signed White to a four-year, $3.11 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $654,441.[9]

"It's hard for me to talk about Kyzir because I get real excited. I don't want to jump the gun on him. I want to get him in some games and watch him play, but just watching him run around here and some of the things he did in the offseason, I get real excited talking about him. His speed. His attitude. His explosiveness. He just has great instincts as a football player. We had a hammer on him (in the draft)."[10]

–Anthony Lynn (Chargers' head coach)

White with the 2018 Los Angeles Chargers tackling Washington Football Team running back Antonio Gibson, September 12, 2021

During rookie minicamp, Chargers' coaching staff announced their decision to move White to linebacker.[11] White adjusted to the new position quickly and immediately impressed coaching staff. During training camp, he began competing as the Chargers' starting weak side linebacker against Jatavis Brown.[12] Head coach Anthony Lynn named White the backup weakside linebacker behind Brown to start the regular season.[13] But an hour before kickoff in the Chargers' season-opener, it was reported Lynn has instead elected to start White alongside Kyle Emanuel and middle linebacker Denzel Perryman.[14]

White made his professional regular season debut and first career start on September 9, 2018, in the Chargers' season-opener against the Kansas City Chiefs and recorded six combined tackles in their 38–28 loss. On September 16, 2018, White recorded four solo tackles, broke up two passes, and made his first career interception during a 31–20 win at the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. He made his first career interception off a pass thrown by Bills' rookie quarterback Josh Allen intended for tight end Jason Croom, and returned it for a nine-yard gain in the game's fourth quarter.[15][16] In a Week 3 game at the Los Angeles Rams, White suffered a knee injury that required minor surgery, and he was inactive for the following four games (Weeks 4–8).[17] On November 3, 2018, the Chargers announced he was being placed on injured reserve.[18]

2019

In Week 5 of the 2019 season, White recorded an interception off Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco in the Chargers' 20–13 loss.[19]

2020

White was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Chargers on November 21, 2020,[20] and was reactivated on December 9.[21] On December 23, 2020, White was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.[22]

2021

White entered the 2021 season as the Chargers' starting linebacker and finished the season as the team's leading tackler with 144 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, three passes defensed, and two interceptions.

Philadelphia Eagles

White with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023

On March 26, 2022, White signed a one-year contract, worth up to $5 million, with the Philadelphia Eagles.[23][24] In White's first season with the Eagles, the team reached Super Bowl LVII, where they lost 38–35 to the Chiefs. White had four tackles in Super Bowl LVII.[25]

Arizona Cardinals

On March 15, 2023, White signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.[26]

Personal life

White has two brothers, Kevin and Ka'Raun, both of whom also played college football at Lackawanna before transferring to West Virginia.[4] White's older brother Kevin is a wide receiver who was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round in 2015 and later played with the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers.

References

  1. ^ Henne, Ricky (April 28, 2018). "Chargers Kick off Day Three with West Virginia LB Kyzir White". Chargers.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018.
  2. ^ "Kyzir White", PennLive.com, retrieved April 30, 2018.
  3. ^ Kyzir White highlights at MaxPreps
  4. ^ a b Taylor, Allen (June 17, 2015). "Kyzir White becomes highest-rated brother to commit to WVU". West Virginia Metro News. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  5. ^ "Kyzir White College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "NFL Draft Profile: Kyzir Whitewash". NFL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  7. ^ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Wade, Richard (April 28, 2018). "Los Angeles Chargers Select LB Kyzir White". BoltsFromTheBlue.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  9. ^ "Spotrac.com: Kyzir White contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  10. ^ Henne, Ricky (July 30, 2018). "Kyzir White Earns Highest Possible Praise from Coach Lynn". Chargers.com. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  11. ^ Anderson, Chris (May 12, 2018). "WATCH: Kyzir White Discusses NFL Position Change". 247sports.com. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  12. ^ Posey, Kyle (July 30, 2018). "Kyzir White getting first team reps at linebacker during today's practice". Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  13. ^ Stanley, Matthew (September 4, 2018). "Chargers release first "unofficial" depth chart". boltsfromtheblue.com. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  14. ^ "Chargers to have three new starters on the defense". Bolts From The Blue. September 9, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  15. ^ Rodak, Mike (September 16, 2018). "Bills lose in Allen's first start; McCoy hurt". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  16. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills - September 16th, 2018". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  17. ^ "Chargers' Kyzir White: Sidelined for Week 4". cbssports.com. September 28, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  18. ^ Henne, Ricky (November 3, 2018). "Chargers Place Kyzir White on IR; Sign Jeff Richards". Chargers.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  19. ^ "Lindsay helps give Broncos' Fangio first win as coach". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  20. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers put leading tackler Kyzir White on COVID-19 list". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 21, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  21. ^ "Chargers' Kyzir White: All clear from COVID-19". CBSSports.com. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  22. ^ Williams, Charean (December 23, 2020). "Chargers place Kyzir White on injured reserve". NBCSports.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  23. ^ McMullen, John (April 5, 2022). "Kyzir White Returns Home as 'A Perfect Fit'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  24. ^ Erby, Glenn (March 26, 2022). "4 takeaways from the Eagles agreeing to a deal with former Chargers LB Kyzir White". Eagles Wire. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  25. ^ "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  26. ^ Urban, Darren (March 15, 2023). "Kyzir White Agrees To Two-Year Deal With Cardinals". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kyzir White.
Los Angeles Chargers 2018 NFL Draft selections
Arizona Cardinals roster
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