UK defensive coordinator Brad White: ‘Kentucky’s home, Kentucky’s family.’
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Citrus Bowl preview: Kentucky vs. Iowa
The University of Kentucky football team concludes its 2021 season Saturday against Big Ten West Division champion Iowa in the VRBO Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Click below to view all the stories previewing the game that have been published on Kentucky.com.
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Brad White wished not to spend too much time Tuesday talking about his continued employment as the University of Kentucky football team’s defensive coordinator.
White this month was reportedly coveted for the same role by newly minted LSU head coach Brian Kelly. Specifics regarding that courtship, or any others that might have happened between the end of UK’s season and its return to practice for the Citrus Bowl, weren’t discussed, but the fourth-year coach was clear about his current desires.
“I am so excited to be here and be Kentucky’s defensive coordinator, and Kentucky’s home, Kentucky’s family,” White said during a video news conference. “Myself, my wife, my kids, we feel one with Big Blue Nation. And, to me, that is more than anything.”
White, 39, came to Kentucky after six seasons in various roles with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. He served as UK’s outside linebackers coach for one season before then-defensive coordinator Matt House left to become a linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. White since the 2019 season has been UK’s defensive coordinator in addition to leading its outside linebackers.
(As fate would have it, House since White’s commitment to UK has been reported as a defensive coordinator target by Kelly; he reportedly turned down the same job when Tennessee offered it last year.)
Kentucky in less than a year lost inside linebackers coach Jon Sumrall (named the head coach at Troy) and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale (named to the same position at Michigan), both of whom might have succeeded White if he were to leave for another job. With a line of succession on defense unclear, it behooved Stoops and UK to retain White if it could. He projects as a future head coach, but that the program was able to keep a traditional juggernaut from prying him away for the same job speaks volumes about the growth it’s experienced during Stoops’ tenure.
White has been a firsthand witness to some of the rosiest years in Kentucky football history, and looks forward to bringing more good times to Lexington.
“It’s not without challenges, everything has challenges,” White said. “But when you know that a head coach has your back, when you know an administration has your back, when you know a fan base has your back, you can push through any challenge. And to know that, in any profession, gives a person great comfort. And I think that’s what life’s about. It’s about having a support system. And that’s what family is about. And since we moved here four years ago, that’s what we recognize. At this university, this state, the support system that they provide, it’s unlike any place we’ve ever been.
“We’re just blessed to be a part of this community, the way that this community has embraced us. And there’s no monetary value that you can put on that.”
Recruiting
White’s position group was an area of emphasis in the 2022 recruiting cycle.
Other than its contributions from J.J. Weaver — a sophomore coming off ACL surgery — UK had difficulty generating much in the way of production at outside linebacker. Both of its incoming freshmen, Tyrese Fearbry and Keaten Wade, were rated as four-star prospects at the position, and could see the field next season depending on how spring and fall camps play out. While talking about their potential to contribute, White mentioned Trevin Wallace, a true freshman linebacker who played spot snaps for UK early this year but gradually played more as the season progressed.
White noted that he’s picky — “maybe to a fault” — about the players who come to UK at the outside linebacker position because of its requirements in the defense. Fearbry and Wade “far exceed” the standard he expects.
“The drop aspect, the edge setting, the pass rushing there, there’s a lot of components that you’re trying to get built in there,” White said.
Wade is as ready to drop back in coverage as any linebacker he’s recruited to UK, White said, while Fearbry is more “technically proficient” as a pass-rusher but more raw as an all-around defender.
“That’s great,” White said. “They’re going to be able to feed off each other. They’ve communicated with each other. I hope you can hear it in my voice, the excitement that I have to bring those two in together. The future is really bright there.”
Jon Sumrall
White says Sumrall will do “a phenomenal job” as the new head coach at Troy, where he was an assistant for three years prior to joining Ole Miss in the 2018 season. He moved onto UK, where he previously played, in 2019.
“For me personally, I hate losing him,” White said. “He’s one of my best friends in, not just this profession, but on this planet. But I’m a Troy Trojan fan now, so I’ll be watching their games. I never thought I’d be watching them closely but now I’ll watch them every time they’re on TV, and we’ll bounce ideas back and forth.
“And that’s another way you grow, you know. ‘Hey, I saw you do this,’ and in this profession, that’s what it’s about.”
Next game
No. 22 Kentucky vs. No. 15 Iowa
What: VRBO Citrus Bowl
When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1
Where: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
TV: ABC-36
Records: Kentucky 9-3, Iowa 10-3
Series: First meeting
This story was originally published December 22, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
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