Sept. 9, 2009

By Turner Walston. One can get into the end zone in a variety of ways: running in untouched, recovering a fumble, catching a ball in the end zone, punching it in from the 1, etc. Johnny White certainly took the long way.

White started at tailback just two years at Asheville High School, but he broke Charlie Justice's school record with 5,133 yards from scrimmage, and led the Cougars to the 3-A State Championship in 2005. He committed to the Tar Heels in February 2006.

White redshirted in his first year on campus, as senior Ronnie McGill held down the tailback duties. In the fall of 2007,White emerged from a three-way battle as the starter at tailback entering the season. That year, he started eight games, rushing for 399 yards on 95 carries - but no touchdowns.

In the spring of 2008, White was moved to cornerback as Greg Little had apparently emerged as the team's running threat. He spent the first seven games of the season in the secondary before returning to the backfield, where he had two rushing attempts for no gain. When Brandon Tate was lost for the season, White became the team's primary kick returner.

This past spring, White was on the move again, this time it was to wide receiver. Always willing to do what's best for the team, he obliged. In July, White said his experience at two different positions and on both sides of the ball would enhance his abilities at receiver. "I think it's helped me, big-time, knowing simple things that tailbacks would know, knowing the things that DBs look for in receivers."

Quarterback T.J. Yates was encouraged by the move. "Johnny has lightning speed," Yates said this summer. "He's so quick, and we're going to be able to use him in so many ways: the pass game, maybe running the ball, just doing different things and using his speed as much as possible."

With a crop of young wide receivers poised to make their debuts this season, White could have easily been the forgotten man in the Tar Heel offense. But on Saturday, he lined up as the slot receiver a critical 3rd and 9 play early against The Citadel. Yates delivered a highly-catchable pass that went in and out of White's hands, missing out on a likely touchdown.

"I just told him he'd better catch the next one," Yates said. "I'm going to keep throwing him the ball until he does catch it."

He didn't need to wait long. In the second quarter, Carolina faced a 2nd and 11 after an illegal block backed them to the Citadel 18. White lined up wide right. His route took him inside, then out, before he ducked back toward the middle of the field. Yates fired a bullet that White secured just before his feet touched down in the end zone.

"It just happened to be the perfect type of coverage for the play," he said. "I just stuck with the route and it just happened to open up like that."

The celebration that followed wasn't just about going up 10-0 on The Citadel. It was a release of the emotions that build up in three years of hard work. "I can't even explain it," White said of the score. "It was one of the best feelings I've ever felt, just that environment that was around, and scoring the first touchdown of the season, it felt great."

No one was happier for White than Yates. "I was like, `Wait a second, that was Johnny,'" Yates said. "Johnny's worked so hard and moved his way around the team to different positions, and for him to finally get his first one, I know he was psyched about it, and so was I."

White's contributions to this team don't figure to end after one game. He sits atop the depth chart at kick returner, and knowing White, he'll continue to contribute on offense, too. "He's gone through some experimental phases," Davis said Monday. "We've tried him at corner, we've tried him at running back, and we're just trying to find ways to utilize his skills to help us win."

White's touchdown was the culmination of a circuitous journey. "It was stressful, a lot of stressful nights and days, just wondering when I would get my shot," he said. "My family helped me stay mentally strong, and my faith in God, trusting in Him that He'd lead me on the right path, and I knew He would eventually."

After having been on the bench, in the backfield, the secondary, and everywhere in between, White's found that the end zone suits him just fine. Clearly, he's determined to do whatever it takes to get there.

Catch Johnny White and Da'Norris Searcy tonight at Butch Davis Live! tonight at 7 p.m. at Top of the Hill and on the Tar Heel Sports Network.

Turner Walston is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly. Follow the THM staff on Twitter.