Xavier

White

Indy waived WR Xavier White in a corresponding move. Treadwell bounced between the Ravens’ practice squad and active roster throughout the 2023 season. He appeared in five games and caught one pass for 16 yards. The former first-round pick will be a depth option for the Colts if he makes their 53-man roster.

White (5'11/185), a former receiver who shifted to running back during spring ball, also had four catches for 28 yards. He continues to take advantage of a trying season for SaRodorick Thompson. Thompson was charged with street racing in late-September and hasn’t been given over 17 carries in a game since (he had seven today). White is really coming on, with 233 rushing yards and a TD on 23 carries (10.1 YPC) over the last two weeks. He may have carved out at least an even timeshare with Thompson going forward.

Thompson (6'0/210) was unable to finish either of the Red Raiders’ last two games due to injury, but he is out on the field going three pregame warmups. Texas Tech’s backfield stands to be close to full strength Saturday in Fort Worth, as Xavier White is also expected to make his return after missing two weeks due to injury.

White (5'11/185) was one of two running backs injured during the Red Raiders’ win over West Virginia last weekend, with SaRodorick Thompson being the other. However unlike Thompson, who was a full participant in pregame warmups, White was not on the field and is not expected to play due to the shoulder injury that he suffered. As a result of the redshirt sophomore’s absence, Thompson and Chadarius Townsend will shoulder much of the load in the backfield for the Red Raiders.

Both backs were banged up during the Red Raiders’ 34-27 win over West Virginia on Saturday, with Thompson (6'0/210) being the more effective of the two. The redshirt sophomore rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, but 48 of those yards were gained on one play. White finished the game with 14 yards on six carries while also catching two passes for five yards. Texas Tech has taking a “committee” approach to the running back position this season, with Tahj Brooks (12-44-1 vs. West Virginia) also factoring into the equation.

White, a former receiver who shifted to running back in the spring, entered this game with only four career carries. But he outplayed backfield mate SaRodorick Thompson (12 carries for 46 yards) today. We will see if White (5'11/185) has won a larger portion of the timeshare next week against Iowa State.

White (5'11/185) enrolled at Texas Tech as a wideout by trade. Last season, he posted a 10-159-1 receiving line before upper-body surgery scuttled his season after just four games played. Speaking on White’s upside at running back, Red Raiders OC David Yost said, “He’s so dynamic with the football. I think he has a future there.” SaRodorick Thompson sits atop the team’s depth chart, but there’s not much buttressing him further down the ladder. If White can smoothly make the position switch, there are carries which would be available to him. The Athletic’s Max Olson passes along that Texas Tech could potentially add a JUCO transfer to help pad out the position group.

White (5'11/185) missed last week’s game against Oklahoma State and it looks like that was only the first of many absences he will have this season. Wells confirmed to the media on Monday that the inside receiver, who caught 10 passes for 159 yards and a score this season, will sit out the rest of the year following his surgery. Considering White appeared in only four games this season, he is eligible to redshirt and retain a year of eligibility. White will have three years of remaining eligibility, assuming he redshirts the rest of 2019.

White (5'11/185), a Lubbock native who spent last season at Dodge City CC, has made positive strides throughout fall camp. “He catches the ball and makes a move real quick,” HC Matt Wells said, “and at our H position, those are some skills that are needed and necessary. He’s still a young receiver. He’s improving his route-running ability. He’s actually made some decent blocks out on the perimeter against some bigger overhang safeties and outside linebackers.” But that hasn’t been enough to establish any separation in the competition, as McLane Mannix and Dalton Rigdon have also played well in fall camp. At this rate all three should see action when the regular season begins.