Senior Spotlight: From JUCO to Top 25, Cal CB Darius White Has Earned Chance To Make Impact

Entering the 2015 season, there was no question California would possess a lethal offense on a weekly basis and put up more than enough points to make them a threat to any team on the schedule. The ability of the defense to make plays was left as the biggest question. Midway through the season, Cal's defense has proven capable of taking care of business and has helped make Cal more than a threat to score an upset any given week. They're certainly a legitimate contender in the Pac-12 North. That is because seniors like defensive tackle Mustafa Jalil and safety Stefan McClure have provided veteran leadership on defense. Joining them in making an impact on the defense's successes is cornerback Darius White.

The senior from Grenada, Mississippi, and former transfer from Itawamba Community College, has caught the attention of those following the Pac-12 and Cal football this season. Earlier this season, in acknowledgment of his performance against Washington in a 30-24 victory for the Golden Bears, White was honored as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness. White recovered two fumbles and picked off a pass in the win. Already with two interceptions this season, White has doubled his interception total from a year ago.

White joined the Cal program last season after playing two years at Itawamba Community College. The two years at the JUCO level helped White improve his skills while getting a chance to play early. Among JUCO players, White was highly regarded as one of the top junior college cornerbacks and he earned all-state honors during his sophomore season in 2013. After getting in the mix at Cal in 2014, White wasted little time showing what he can do. His playing time was sparse, but he took advantage of those few opportunities. White recorded a career-high seven tackles against BYU and picked off his first pass against Cal's rival, Stanford. He was given a chance to start three of the final five games in 2014 and he carried the momentum over to have a solid spring. This led to White getting a chance to lock down a starting job in Cal's defense and preseason honors from college football analyst Phil Steele.

Having gone through the JUCO ranks can make many players tougher mentally as the journey to reach this stage with a top 25 program is a rigorous one without many alternatives. White's story is an inspirational one and his leadership qualities developed along the way have surely led to a positive impact on the play of the defense this season.

Cal Senior Spotlight Series:

• WR Maurice Harris
• DT Mustafa Jalil
• RB Daniel Lasco
• WR Bryce Treggs
• S Stefan McClure
• TE Stephen Anderson

Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.