Like Father, Like Son

By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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Rather than severing ties or adding any unwanted tension into their relationship, Jackson White’s foray into the passionate world of football has only served the purpose of strengthening the bond between a father and his son.

For decades, humans have been taught that we are all “products of our environment”. We have been taught that the immediate surroundings of our childhood will ultimately produce who we become as we mature and develop.

If that sentiment is indeed valid, then it comes as little surprise that 2016 quarterback prospect Jackson White out of Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida, has gradually developed into an elite prospect on the recruiting trail.

The son of current Florida running backs coach and longtime high-profile college assistant Brian White, Jackson was raised in an environment which was certainly conducive to producing an elite football talent. Even though his father was not aggressive in pushing him towards the game of football, it didn’t take long for Jackson to become completely enamored by the sport which also had completely captivated his dad.

“As a little kid, I never realized how much football meant to everyone around us, but once I grew up around it I pretty much realized that football is my family’s entire life,” Jackson told Southern Pigskin in between practices for his high school’s summer camp. “It’s my entire life now too. It’s everything. I wake up with it, and I go to bed with it.”

Jackson’s father caught the incurable form of “football fever” at an early age as well. Also growing up with a father who enjoyed a successful career in the football coaching ranks, Brian knew that he was ultimately destined to lead young men on the gridiron.

Upon the completion of his playing career as a two-year starting quarterback at Harvard, Brian turned down a myriad of promising career avenues in order to focus on his only true love. The opportunities presented by his Harvard degree were obviously endless, but in his mind, there was never any question about which profession he would end up doing for a living.

“I knew at a young age I was going to coach because I grew up on a football field with my dad,” said the now coaching veteran of almost 30 years. “Coaching is kind of the family business, so to speak. My dad was a high school football coach in Massachusetts and played quarterback at Notre Dame in the late 1950s. I just fell in love with football and coaching. Obviously, having a great mentor and someone I really admired in my dad, my career path was carved at a very young age.” 

Football has gradually become the family business for the White household, but it has not become so due to any demands or impositions from the authoritative figures. Football was undeniably spoken of in high-regard and athletic participation of some sort was greatly encouraged, but there was never any direct pressure to strap up the helmet and shoulder pads.

Brian was keenly aware of the benefits which came along with a life in football, but he was also cognizant of the fact that such an intense passion for the sport was not something that could be artificially created.

While remaining intimately close with the sport through his own coaching career, he would allow Jackson to decide on his involvement in football on his own.

“I never wanted to be a father who forced either of my children to do anything, but I did want them to become involved in athletics,” Brian recalled of his parental methods pertaining to sports. “I think that athletics are an important component to any person’s development. I wanted to push them to become involved in team activities and athletic pursuits, not so that they would be a professional player, but that they would understand what being part of a team is all about. I believe I probably pushed them in that regard, but I never wanted to push a specific position or a specific sport on either of them. I think they have naturally gravitated towards sports they love, and luckily for me, they both love football.”

If you are going to fall in love with football as passionately as Jackson did, it certainly doesn’t hurt to share a house with one of the most respected assistant football coaches in the country. The elder White has spent nearly three decades coaching at prestigious football institutions such as Florida, Wisconsin, Washington, Syracuse and Notre Dame. Along the way, naturally, he picked up a wealth of knowledge and experience which can be rivaled by few, even within the profession.

Not wanting to step over the line with either of his children, though, Brian did not want to approach his son with the idea of working together towards accomplishing Jackson’s football goals. He realized that, while he could obviously prove to be a huge asset in Jackson’s football progression, it was ultimately a decision that his son would have to make on his own.

Fortunately for both father and son, Jackson’s eyes were clearly opened to the unique advantage presented by his genetic fortune.

“He is,” father responded when asked if his son is proactive in seeking his advice and guidance on the gridiron. “He really enjoys the game. He’s a very intelligent young man who is a very visual kid that understands space. I think he always has enjoyed the schematic part of football, and he’s done it naturally. It’s comforting to me that I don’t force him to come in and watch tape with me, but when we do, upon his request, he has the ability to see things, retain and ask good questions.”

Although not forced into the decision, it wasn’t hard for Jackson to see how tapping into his father’s extensive vault of knowledge could help him develop into a better-rounded signal caller. And as he started approaching his father for advice that would help improve his game, he immediately realized that he was ahead of the curve.

“Oh yeah, it’s definitely a blessing,” Jackson candidly remarked about his father’s experience in coaching. “It put me ahead of a lot of people that don’t have that advantage. As I’ve gotten older, he’s started coaching me up. We are able to go over film all the time.”

The advantages presented to Jackson have paid immediate dividends as well. Facing competition from older teammates, Jackson was able to win the starting quarterback job for Buchholz as just a sophomore.

Despite playing in a mostly run-oriented offense and missing three games at the end of the season due to health reasons, Jackson still managed to throw for nearly 900 yards and nine touchdowns in his first season at the varsity level. His play consistently improved with each week, as he spent time working with his coaching staff and his father on his comprehension of coverages.

His father was also able to share in the journey of his first season as a high school starter.

Whereas many collegiate assistants would be required to attend the high school contest of one of the top prospects on the recruiting board, Florida head coach Will Muschamp generously allowed his running backs coach to enjoy his son’s performances on Friday nights.

“I’m very, very fortunate that Coach Muschamp allows our kids to be around the offices at all times, so Jackson has had the opportunity to come to practices, sit in meeting and be on the sidelines during the game,” Brian stated of his head coach’s policy with family. “Even more importantly, he’s allowed me to go watch games on Friday nights during the season when we’re at home, which doesn’t happen very often in our profession. I am extremely grateful to Will for his understanding in clearly knowing what the big picture is.”

Though the fall season ultimately culminated with a disappointing 3-7 record for his high school team, Jackson made significant strides as a quarterback as the season progressed. He also was able to pinpoint a couple of areas where he would like to improve, namely increasing his build to handle the rigors of the game’s physicality.

As he continues to increase his physical strength through an intense offseason workout regimen, Jackson has continued to diligently study opposing defenses to give himself a mental edge on the competition. At the time, his intelligence on the gridiron is a trait which he considers to be one of his strongest.

“I think one of my biggest strengths is reading coverages, and knowing where to throw the football, when to throw it and how to throw it,” Jackson offered in a self-evaluation. “I also think that I have very good accuracy on my passes.”

Jackson’s continued development was on full display at a number of camps and combines held throughout the region during the course of the offseason. Performing at a high level for a multitude of college coaches and evaluators, his name has started to generate a significant amount of buzz on the recruiting trail as he enters his pivotal junior campaign.

The solid showings at camps such as the Rivals 250 have led many schools to begin formulating relationships with a prospect who undoubtedly has the requisite DNA to succeed at the collegiate level. Arizona State, Georgia, Navy and Virginia are just a few of the handful of schools that have maintained frequent contact with Jackson on the recruiting front. Many of the schools are waiting to see how he will perform for his high school program after another offseason of improvement. If the improvement is as great as many are expecting, scholarship offers could very well be on the horizon.

Just like he did when he was developing into a highly-coveted prospect in the class of 2016, Jackson plans on relying upon his father for advice and guidance as he maneuvers through the recruiting process.

Jackson readily admits that his ultimate dream would be to play college football with his father, but he wants to make sure that he is thorough as he traverses this uncharted territory.

For his part, the veteran of the “other side” of the recruiting process is simply encouraging his son to be true to himself.

“The best advice is to obviously be yourself; don’t try to be anybody other than Jackson White,” Brian commented. “I would tell him to be attentive and to listen, and gather as much information as you can on the school. The most important thing is the academics, and then try to figure out what the atmosphere of the football program is. The most important thing for any young athlete deciding on a school, in my opinion, is making sure it’s the right personality and cultural fit for you.”

Rather than severing ties or adding any unwanted tension into their relationship, Jackson’s foray into the passionate world of football has only served the purpose of strengthening the bond between a father and his son.

It has also helped mold a talented young man who is primed to go on to accomplish exceptional things in the foreseeable future.