The NFL Draft is right around the corner and many mock drafts have former West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White as one of the top two (if not the top) receivers in this year’s class.
A large number of mock drafts have White being selected fourth overall to the Oakland Raiders.
White is well-deserving of being a top pick in this draft class, though.
White who stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 215 pounds has all the attributes to make a huge impact in the NFL. His size, physicality and athleticism makes it easy for him to be dominant for a young team like Raiders.
Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Kevin White catches a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr had an impressive rookie season. He finished the season with 3,270-yards, 21 touchdowns and a 58.1 completion percentage. If the Raiders believe he is the future of the franchise, it will be key to surround the young signal caller with weapons in 2015.
The Raiders, however, had a lousy regular season. They finished with a 3-13 record and missed the playoffs for the 12th straight season. The poor receiving corps for Carr plays a huge role in the lack of production.
Should the Raiders scoop up White in the fourth round, the pick would put White right into a major role as he would most likely be viewed as either the first or second receiver on the team.
White’s stats speak volumes to the kind of player he is and the kind of play he’s capable of. White had 109 receptions for 1,447-yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
White was one of the most valuable receiver in college football during his time with the Mountaineers. His improvement over the year shocked many as he didn’t quite make the same impact during his first season at West Virginia.
The Raiders recently brought in former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree. White will fit in perfectly with newly signed Crabtree. Crabtree was signed to add experience to a young and improving offense — and with his leadership, White can learn a thing or two.
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White only helped his draft stock during his incredible NFL Combine, running a 4.35 40-yard dash and showing off his athleticism in other events. He also had a strong showing at West Virginia’s Pro Day.
He ultimately beat out Alabama’s Amari Cooper and Louisville’s DeVante Parker in all events. Cooper is the only other receiver that has a chance to be selected above White. It’s possible the Raiders could take Cooper over White, but all signs indicated that White is slightly better than the former Crimson Tide receiver.
Should White not be selected by the Raiders, other mock drafts have him landing with the New York Jets. That would mean pairing him with former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.
White also boasts confident heading into the draft, something that’s very important for a young, up-and-coming player to feel.
“I don’t feel that any receiver can do what I can do,” he said. “Whether it’s blocking, creating space, taking a tunnel screen to the house, I do it all. I don’t feel like guys can do what I can do. Not saying that to be cocky, just confident. I feel like I’m one of a kind.”
This confidence entering the NFL draft could show not just the Raiders but all 32 teams in the league that White is ready to play at the highest level and make a major difference.