Sean White (American football)
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| No. 13 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | November 10, 1995 Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 211 lb (96 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
|
| High school | Fort Lauderdale (FL) University Nova South |
Sean Michael White (born November 10, 1995) is an American football quarterback who formerly played for the Auburn Tigers. White ranks third in Auburn history for career passing efficiency and fourth in completion percentage.[1]
High school career
White attended Chaminade-Madonna in Hollywood, Florida before transferring to University School for his senior year.[2] White finished his high school career as one of Broward County’s all-time leading passers, throwing for just over 8,400 yards and 117 TDs.[3] He was named 1st-Team All-Florida twice and 1st-Team All-Broward three times.[4][5][6]
White won the Elite 11 competition MVP in the summer of 2013, competing against top QBs such as Deshaun Watson, Kyle Allen, DeShone Kizer, and Will Grier.[7] White was QB of the South Florida Express, a summer 7-on-7 team with top South Florida prospects and QB alumni that include Teddy Bridgewater and Geno Smith.[8] After his senior season, he was named MVP of the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game completing 10/12 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.[9] White was rated a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com and 247sports, noting strengths in intangibles, instincts, and arm talent, with weaknesses in physical size and speed.[10][11] He committed to Auburn University to play college football.[12][13]
College career
White redshirted his first year at Auburn in 2014.
White began his redshirt freshman year in 2015 as backup to Jeremy Johnson, but was named starter after 3 weeks.[14] He made his first collegiate start against Mississippi State and Dak Prescott.[15][16] White went on to start 6 games in 2015, becoming the first freshman QB in Auburn history to pass for 250+ yards in 3 straight games (Ole Miss, Kentucky, Arkansas), and the first Auburn QB to do so since Dameyune Craig in 1997.[17] Injuries caused White to miss the final games of the regular season, including the Iron Bowl.
In 2016, White was named starting quarterback by Gus Malzahn after battling Johnson and JUCO transfer John Franklin III for the job,[18] but all three took snaps in the season opener against Clemson. White would take control of the job a few weeks later in a win over LSU.[19] After 9 games, White held the best passer rating in the SEC, leading Auburn to a 6-game win streak and inside the Top 10.[20][21]
During the win streak, White suffered a shoulder injury in a 40–29 road win over Ole Miss,[22] and was initially held out in the following game against Vanderbilt. With Auburn trailing at halftime 13-10, White came out to start the 2nd half, throwing a go-ahead touchdown and leading Auburn to a 23–16 comeback win, temporarily keeping playoff chances alive.[23][24] Auburn's hopes would end quickly however, as injuries to Kamryn Pettway and White hampered Auburn’s offense the next week against Georgia, and the Tigers lost in Athens. After missing the Iron Bowl for the second straight year due to injury, White returned to play in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma and Baker Mayfield, but was forced to be replaced in the 2nd quarter after breaking his arm.[25][26] White finished 2016 with 1,679 passing yards, 11 total touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and led the SEC with a 63.9 completion percentage.[27]
In 2017, White, whose injuries kept him out of Spring practice, lost the starting position to Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham. On September 18, 2017, he was dismissed from the team following a public intoxication arrest, ending his career at Auburn.[28][29]
Statistics
| Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Comp | Att | Yds | TD | INT | Rate | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Auburn Tigers | |||||||||||
| 2015 | Auburn | 83 | 143 | 1,166 | 1 | 4 | 123.2 | 30 | 35 | 1.2 | 0 |
| 2016 | Auburn | 133 | 208 | 1,679 | 9 | 3 | 143.1 | 55 | 163 | 3.0 | 2 |
| Career | 216 | 351 | 2,845 | 10 | 7 | 135.0 | 85 | 198 | 2.3 | 2 | |
Controversy
White was arrested and charged with public intoxication shortly before 3 a.m. on Homecoming Night, September 17, 2017. Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn dismissed White from the team the next day, stating: "He has made poor decisions that are not in the best interest of our program, and more importantly, himself.”[29]
In February 2018, a municipal court judge in the city of Auburn dismissed the public intoxication charge against White.[30]
Personal life
White considered offers to join other programs after leaving Auburn, but with lingering injuries and limited eligibility remaining prior to the transfer portal era, he chose to finish his degree at Florida International University. White currently lives in Boston, MA.[31]
White’s younger brother, Drew, played football as a linebacker for Notre Dame.[32]
References
- ^ "Sean White - Football".
- ^ "Former Chaminade-Madonna QB Sean White transfers to University School". February 2013.
- ^ "Broward County football statistical leaders". September 8, 2014.
- ^ "Class 3A-4A all-state football: Jones, South Sumter place 2 each on 4A first team". January 3, 2013.
- ^ "2014 QB White had Big Junior Year".
- ^ "Auburn quarterback Sean White has history of erasing doubts". amp.ledger-enquirer.com.
- ^ "White named MVP as Elite 11 QBS revealed". July 5, 2013.
- ^ "Blu's Blog: South Florida Express is Still the 7-on-7 Standard - CBS Miami". CBS News. January 9, 2017.
- ^ "Auburn QB commit Sean White earns Under Armour All-America Game MVP honors". AL.com. January 3, 2014.
- ^ "Sean White, Auburn Tigers, Quarterback".
- ^ "Sean White". yahoo.com.
- ^ "Auburn gets commitment from Elite 11 MVP Sean White (with video)". AL.com. July 16, 2013.
- ^ "University School QB Sean White commits to Auburn". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013.
- ^ Fox Sports. "Auburn preparing QB Sean White for game action this fall". FOX Sports.
- ^ "Auburn Tigers switching quarterbacks, will start Sean White over Jeremy Johnson". ESPN.com. September 22, 2015.
- ^ "Sean White will start at quarterback for Auburn against Mississippi State". AL.com. September 22, 2015.
- ^ "'Tough as nails' quarterback Sean White has earned trust of Auburn teammates". August 17, 2016.
- ^ "Pros and Cons of Naming Sean White Auburn's Starting QB". Bleacher Report.
- ^ https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2016/09/alcoms_instant_analysis_auburn_clemson_2016.html
- ^ "Auburn's No. 9 in College Football Playoff standings". Auburn Tigers - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
- ^ https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2016/09/sean_white_remains_auburns_sta.html
- ^ https://www.secsports.com/news/2016/10/no-15-auburns-offense-stuns-ole-miss-40-29against
- ^ "How quarterback Sean White saved Auburn's season and playoff hopes in win over Vandy | Fox Sports".
- ^ Crepea, James (November 5, 2016). "John Franklin III starts, injured Sean White takes over to lead No. 9 Auburn to win over Vanderbilt". al. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
- ^ "Sean White's season of injuries ends in Sugar Bowl".
- ^ "Auburn's White breaks arm in Sugar Bowl loss". January 3, 2017.
- ^ "College Football Offense Passing SEC Stat Leaders, 2016 Season". ESPN. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
- ^ Zenitz, Matt (September 18, 2017). "Auburn QB Sean White dismissed from team following arrest". AL.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
- ^ a b "Off the Team but Forever a Tiger: A Tribute to Sean White". September 18, 2017.
- ^ Crepea, James (February 15, 2018). "Public intoxication charge against former Auburn quarterback Sean White dismissed". AL.com. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "Sean White". www.linkedin.com.
- ^ James, Tyler (December 29, 2020). "Drew White plays 'maniacal' man in the middle for Notre Dame's defense". Notre Dame Insider. Retrieved August 16, 2025.