Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Boise State linebacker Hunter White uses strong special teams play to earn more time on defense

By BY CHADD CRIPE

Boise State sophomore linebacker Hunter White has vented his frustration on opposing kickoff returners.

Listed as a third-stringer going into the season, he has used his role on the kickoff team to impress coaches and earn time on defense.

White has played more the past two weeks and is tied for fifth on the team with 24 tackles. Half of those tackles came on special teams, including a remarkable 10 in kickoff coverage.

He was the Broncos' top linebacker in spring ball. When the season began, he was No. 5.

"It was a huge kind of blow," White said. "But I kept working hard, kept pushing it and I was making plays on special teams and it just rolled over to defense."

White (5-foot-11, 224 pounds) has been part of the four-man linebacker rotation the past two weeks. He replaced junior Derrell Acrey, who was sick, at Tulsa and held off Acrey in practice for the backup middle linebacker spot last week at Hawaii.

White grabbed his first career interception against the Warriors. He's competing in practice again for playing time Saturday against San Jose State (1:07 p.m., KTVB).

"When things don't go exactly how you want them to, there's a natural reaction to be mad and be in the tank," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "I'm sure he's had all those feelings as well. It's a matter of getting on with it so your role can change again."

And that was White's goal from the start.

He was tagged with the "good play, bad play" label because of his knack for finding the ball - instincts that too often led him to stray from his responsibility.

"He might have pressed a little bit during fall camp," defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox said. "Not every play is going to be a sack or interception. If you try to make it that way, you give things up."

At the same time, the players around White improved. Sophomore Aaron Tevis and freshman J.C. Percy have shared the weak-side job all year. Junior Daron Mackey, Acrey and White have split time in the middle.

That depth has created intense competition in practice and outstanding production in games. The five linebackers have combined for 101 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and four interceptions.

"(Linebackers coach Jeff) Choate wants us to make big plays, game-changing plays," Acrey said. "Turnovers are those plays he's talking about."

And White should help create them as he conquers that fine line between playing his instincts and playing the system.

"He has a good sense of where the ball is," Acrey said. "He makes a lot of plays, especially tackles for loss, when he's in there."

That never changed.

What has changed is White's performance on the snaps between the big plays.

"A lot of it is him being more disciplined in his play - 'OK, I could take this risk but here's the downside of this,' " Choate said. "... I'm sure he's heard us and I think he's starting to listen now. He's seen it affect his ability to play more."

White hopes his improvement will earn him a new label from the coaches.

Anything but "good play, bad play."

"I don't think that's me anymore," he said. "I think that's why I'm playing. ... I've worked my way slowly up the ladder and I still have another rung to go."

And he's getting there one smashed kickoff returner at a time.

"You see him on kickoff and he makes about every other play, it seems like," Wilcox said. "It's not surprising. He's tough, he'll throw his body in there, he's fearless. Guys who are instinctual and playmakers, it shows up on special teams."