AP
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Javin White (53) warms up with teammates during an NFL football training camp practice Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Henderson, Nev. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, Pool)
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020 | 10:58 a.m.
When he was a star linebacker at UNLV, Javin White had a habit of staying late after practice to run sprints, often by himself. Even when the temperature rose above 100 degrees or the Rebels were already eliminated from bowl contention, White remained on the field, putting in extra work to improve.
Unfortunately, White will have to tap into that internal drive now, as the Las Vegas Raiders released him on Saturday as they cut their roster down to 53 players.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the move.
White went undrafted in the spring, but the Raiders signed him as a free agent and seemed pleasantly surprised by his performance throughout training camp. Head coach Jon Gruden, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther and defensive end Maxx Crosby all praised White, citing his intensity and passion on the practice field.
It was always a long shot for White to make the final roster, however, as the Raiders spent a considerable amount of capital in the offseason to bring in established veterans at the linebacker position. Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski were signed to big free-agent deals, and just last week the team traded for former Miami Dolphins starter Raekwon McMillan.
That limited the amount of available space on the roster for White, who also faced an uphill battle due to his physical profile. At 6-foot-3 and just 211 pounds, White is severely undersized and would probably be limited to pass-coverage duties (and special teams) at this point in his career.
If White clears waivers, the Raiders have the option to sign him to their 16-man practice squad. That would keep him in the organization and close by, in case injuries or COVID-19 cause roster turmoil in 2020.
White was UNLV’s best player in 2018 and 2019, as his speed, athleticism and versatility allowed him to make an impact at all levels of the defense. As a junior he recorded 6.5 tackles for loss and intercepted four passes; as a senior he had 8.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
