Published: June 28, 2008 11:36 pm      

Coley White joins star brother at WVU

MORGANTOWN — Coley White was among 20-some West Virginia University football recruits who checked in at Puskar Center this weekend for summer workouts.

He is a talented 6-1, 175-pound quarterback from Daphne, Ala., and, yes, the youngster happens to be a brother of Heisman Trophy candidate Patrick White.

“This will be the first time in my life that I’ve been on the same team with a sibling, so it’s going to be exciting,” said the Mountaineers’ record-breaking fourth-year starter last week.

“I talk to him every day (on the phone) and he definitely sounds excited. He’s just talking about taking my position once he gets onto the field. So he’ll get started on Monday.”

Patrick will tell you that Coley possesses more potential than he did when coming to Morgantown in 2004 and was redshirted as a freshman.

“He’s the best athlete in the family,” he said. And he emphasized that he wasn’t saying that just to be kind but that’s his honest assessment.

Coley’s statistics as a senior at Daphne High certainly were impressive. He accounted for nearly 2,500 yards in total offense, 1,500 passing and 964 rushing. He led his team to an 11-2 record and a state 6-A runner-up finish.

If you’re interested in comparisons, Patrick topped 3,393 yards in his last year of high school competition. He rushed for 1,905 yards and passed for 1,488 yards and his team also was state 6-A runner-up.

Asked whether he thinks Coley is capable of doing what he has done here, Patrick White replied:

“He’s just going to do what he can do. We’re two different bodies and two different people. That’s all he can be — himself. But I’m definitely excited that he’s as good as he is.”

And that’s certainly well said by the two-time Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Year, who has set numerous school and conference records for Coley and others to try to break.

In case you’re wondering, the two brothers won’t be rooming together. Patrick pointed out that all incoming freshmen at WVU are required to stay in a dormitory.

Coley wants to create his own pathway as a Mountaineer while following in Patrick’s footsteps. But the elder White certainly will try to help him get started, just as he has done for other rookies.

“So as his big brother, I’m sure he wants me to help him some as he learns the system and what’s going on,” Patrick said.

The quarterbacks and wide receivers have been working on the passing game three days each week this summer. That’s about the same as they have done in the past, according to White.

“Yes, I do feel a year older and a year smarter a little bit,” he said. “And, of course, I have another year of experience.”

Patrick White likes his new Web site, which provides just about anything one would want to know about this All-America star, who’s the reigning two-time Amateur Athlete of the Year in Alabama as well as West Virginia.