Pulaski Academy wide receiver John David White has long dreamed of playing his college football at Arkansas and he has that opportunity after receiving a preferred walk-on offer from the Razorbacks staff in late October.
Should White, who caught 86 passes for 1,732 yards and a state-best 30 touchdown passes this season and took an official visit to Fayetteville this weekend, join best friend Hudson Henry as a future Razorback or take a scholarship offer to UCA?
There’s also an upcoming visit to Oklahoma State to factor into the mix for White, who also has preferred walk-on invites from Kentucky and Arkansas State and scholarship offers from Tennessee-Martin, Air Force and Ouachita Baptist.
“It was a great experience, something I won’t forget, especially the friendships I made with guys who were also on their visits here,” White said of his visit to Arkansas. "I just had a great time meeting with the coaches, getting to know them better. It was just a great experience.
“It just makes it harder. I don’t know, it’s something that I’ve wanted my whole life, but at the same time, I love UCA. So, I’m feeling torn. It’s kind of a hard thing to describe until you’ve gone through it, but I do have a big decision coming up.”
White had nine catches for 200 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-38 Class 6A state championship game loss to Little Rock Christian, who was led by MVP and current Razorbacks basketball player Justice Hill.
“I know this is cliche, but without my Lord and Savior I’ve got nothing,” White said, whose program was bidding for its fourth straight state title. “He’s given me these abilities and this hard work ethic. All I had to do was put in effort. If it wasn’t for Him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. All I had to do was trust in Him, keep my head down and work hard. That’s why I’m here today, because of Him.”
Arkansas has a commitment from consensus four-star Henry, who had 94 catches for 1,309 yards and 14 touchdowns this past season for the Bruins. While White would love to continue being teammates with Henry in college, he plans to do what he feels is best for himself.
“I’m also my own person, my own player, and I’m going to make my decision for me and not off of friendship,” White said. “But it is fun to know that if I do come up here, my best friend will be up here. So while it might be a big thing to have him up here and have my best friend here, I’m going to make my decision for me.”
Arkansas coaches were quick to make White feel wanted.
“They were just trying to make me feel at home,” White said. “They were trying to make me feel wanted, and I did feel wanted. I felt wanted. We were just talking the whole weekend about football, how much they want me, so it does make it hard to determine where I’m going to go. But I know in the end it’s going to work out the way that the Lord’s got it, so I’ve just got to trust in his plan.”
There has not been mention of a scholarship offer, but White, who has a 4.0 grade point average, is in the process of checking on scholarships that might come from his academic prowess.
“No, they haven’t given me specifics on scholarships,” White said. “I’m doing some applications in case I do end up coming here, just academic stuff. But I know if I keep my head down and work hard, if I keep doing that, it’s going to work out and I’ll get my scholarship if the coaches deem me worthy.”
White does not yet have a timeline for a decision.
“That’s a great question,” White said. “I don’t know the answer to that question, but I will say stay tuned. I don’t know, it’s kind of difficult because I am trying to weigh my options and pray about it a lot.
“ … I’m going to take it home with my family, talk about it and see what’s going on,” White said. “I am seeing Oklahoma State on my trail now, and I’m taking a visit there before National Signing Day, I know that. After all the visits, I’m going to sit down with my parents and see what the best option is.”