IW QA with Brandon White

IW: How did you go about choosing Wisconsin?

White: I just went with what I believed, the place where I thought the opportunity was the best. Iowa told me I could step on the field right away, and that was the case at a few other places as well. Wisconsin told me, we (already) have a few great wide receivers. The way I feel, this is just from me being from Florida and all of that, I’m going to go in there and compete. Competition is what I want, and (Wisconsin) is where there’s going to be the most. I believe if anything happens, if push comes to shove and I’m not able to step on the field (this year), then next year it will be over. I will be there. I’m going to be a first-string receiver. I’m going to be in there. I believe I’m going to come up there and show everybody that I’m going to be in the game. Competition is what I was looking for. That’s the main reason. I’m going to be amongst a bunch of good (receivers) and that’s going to make me better.

IW: Did Iowa promise you a spot as a starter next season?

White: They told me you could basically see the difference in the wideouts they had. They had one, and they didn’t have any more.

IW: There have been conflicting reports about when you made your commitment. When exactly did you commit?

White: I just made it a few minutes ago. (Interview was conducted at 9:15 CST Monday evening). Coach Mason just walked out the door.

IW: What did Coach Mason say when you gave him your commitment?

White: He was happy. He said, `You just took us back to the Rose Bowl.’ He said there just isn’t going to be another group of receivers like that. You have another 6-3 guy, Jonathan Orr, you have a 6-7 guy (Darrin Charles), and you have Lee Evans. He said coming from my high school, it’s so much different than other wide receivers. Being from Palm Beach, I skipped over the Florida’s and the Miami’s and all the other schools, and I came there. And I feel like I’m going to fit in. I’m going to show when I get there that I’m ready now. I’m ready to play early. I don’t need to hear from a coach that, you’re good and all that. Because I know when I get out there, it’s time to show it.

IW: Why did you overlook the Florida’s and Miami’s?

White: Wisconsin did a real good job recruiting me, and you look at different things here and there. I always wanted to play in the Big Ten. I had Florida on my list and everything, but I wanted to get away and play in the Big Ten, and Wisconsin was one of the main ones.

IW: At what point did you decide on Wisconsin?

White: Probably a while ago, but I never really thought it was time to go ahead and throw it out there and jump in. But I feel I’m ready now, and I’m working hard now. I’m working so hard to be ready when I step on that campus in July.

IW: What was your official visit like in Madison? You must have been pretty impressed.

White: Yes, my host was Jonathan Orr. He was cool, and he ended up becoming good friends with me. He showed me that the best wide receivers are in a group of great wide receivers. There won’t just be one. He said by the time (we) get around, he’ll be on one side, I’ll be on the other one, and there will be another one. We have a group that is going to make us better. He ended up wanting me more than the coaches did. He was calling me all the time, asking me what’s up, what I was thinking. He was cool.

IW: Do you know what you want to study yet?

White: I don’t know yet, but it’s such a good school, that I can be wide open and find out what I like.

IW: What would you say about your ability as a receiver, that got you noticed so much the last couple of years?

White: The Florida (schools), and Coach Mason and Michigan and all of them told me…(Mason) told me a couple of days ago again, I’m the prototype. I’m tall and I can throw moves after the catch. He likes Florida boys because they come in with confidence, and they’re ready. Bump and run is a big thing you have to get over in college, and that’s my biggest strength. I’m tall, but I’m elusive. I am a tall receiver, but I’m elusive like a little guy, and that’s what he told me.

IW: What’s your current height, weight and best 40 time?

White: Right now, I’m a little taller than 6-3, I’m 183 and at the Florida camp, I ran a 4.47.

IW: Is there any receiver at the college or pro level that you admire or compare yourself to?

White: I look up to a lot of them. I don’t like to tell anybody this, but around here, in our paper, in all the articles and stuff, it’s always Randy Moss, Randy Moss.