If there was anything Wisconsin could cheer for in this past super bowl, it was former Wisconsin running back James White. The country may not have heard of him, but here in Wisconsin, he was a unforgettable member of the Wisconsin Badgers Football team.

But his success didn’t start in Wisconsin. It started down in Florida at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. There, he shared time with the now running back for the Cincinnati Bengals, Giovanni Bernard. During his senior year, he rushed for 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, which earned him an All-County award. He also acquired a very underrated nickname, “Sweet Feet.”

Luckily for Wisconsin, White picked UW-Madison over Clemson, South Florida, and rival Michigan State. He made an impact in his first collegiate year by rushing for 1,052 yards and 14 touchdowns and won Big-Ten Freshman of the year in 2011.
White went on to set many records during his time at Wisconsin. He is the program’s fifth leading rusher with 4,015 yards and 45 touchdowns. His lighting quick speed made the lives of defenders stressful.

Even though he had to share running the ball with other great running backs like John Clay, Montee Ball, and Mevlin Gordan, White was still able to run for over 100 yards in 17 different games. Wisconsin fans all remember the good old days of seeing someone like Montee Ball run over defenders with ease, and then watching White come in and zip right past the competition.

On White and his comrades’ back, Wisconsin won three straight Big Ten Championships and appeared in three Rose Bowls.
When White’s time in Wisconsin was over, he took the next step onto the NFL, and was drafted in the fourth round by the New England Patriots. He didn’t play in his first season, but was a part of the 2014 championship team.

He finally appeared on our televisions again during his second season when he caught two touchdowns to help the Patriots win the game.

It wasn’t until his third season that James White started to break out. With the starter out with an injury, White took over and caught five touchdowns on the season. With his performance, he became one of only five running backs in the league with over 500 receiving yards.

Despite having success in the NFL, White didn’t truly make a name for himself until Super Bowl LI rolled around. The Patriots were in a tough spot during the big game. Trailing 28-3 in the third quarter, the Patriots were in despite need of a spark, and they got one out of White.

The Falcons didn’t account for the young running back and he gashed them for 14 receptions, which is a super bowl record, along with three touchdowns (two rushing and one receiving), which ties the record for the most by a running back. He scored the game tying and game winning touchdowns as well as a critical two-point conversion.

“It still feels surreal to me. I mean I really haven’t wrapped my head around it,” White said on interview on CBS.

“I just try to go to work each and every day and give everything I have, and just be a viable option no matter what the coach asks me to do, I just want to go out there and do it,” says White.

Well he certainly did with his amazing performance. Helping the Patriots win their second super bowl in three years.