LenDale White is the cousin of former Notre Dame and Pittsburg player Darcey Levey, Wyoming linebacker Herman White, and current Detroit Piston point guard Chauncey Billups. LenDale grew up in Denver, Colorado where he began his high school career at Denver South High School. LenDale rushed for 4,270 yards in his two seasons at Denver South, earning first team all-state honors each season. He played his final two seasons at Chatfield High School in Littleton, Colorado. As a junior, LenDale rushed for 1,850 yards and scored 30 touchdowns. He added 185 receiving yards and two more touchdowns. He was named first team all-state and led Chatfield to a 14-0 record and a state championship. As a senior, White rushed for 1,683 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was named first team all-state for the fourth consecutive year, all-American, and was the Gatorade Colorado player of the year. He finished his career as Colorado’s all-time leading rusher with 7,803 yards in his four years. He was considered one of the top running back prospects in the nation and accepted a scholarship to play at USC where he made an instant impact. White led the Trojans in rushing as a true freshman with 754 yards on 141 carries. He rushed for 13 touchdowns and caught 6 passes for 15 yards and another score. He was named honorable mention all-pac ten for his performance as a freshman. White increased his production as a sophomore, leading the team in rushing for the second consecutive season with 1,103 yards on a career high 203 carries with 15 rushing touchdowns. He added 11 receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He was named second team all-pac ten following his sophomore year. He was plagued by a right ankle sprain a good portion of the season and had surgery to remove torn cartilage in that ankle prior to spring practices in 2005. White was forced to sit out of practices that spring. As a junior, White carried the ball 197 times and had career highs in rushing yards (1,302), rushing touchdowns (24), receptions (14), receiving yards (219), and touchdown receptions (2). He has one year of eligibility remaining but opted to skip his senior season and enter the 2006 NFL draft.

LenDale White has a good combination of size and strength for a power running back. He has good speed for a player his size and is a very physical runner who does most of his damage between the tackles. He has good vision and can be very difficult to bring down. He is very strong which allows him to break tackles and get a lot of yards after initial contact. He does a good job of finishing his runs and he always falls forward to gain additional yardage. He is a great goal line runner who has a real nose for the endzone. LenDale has a tendency to run east-west at times which is a mistake; he is a much more effective runner when he keeps his shoulders square with the line of scrimmage, running north-south. He lacks great speed and elusiveness but he will break long runs from time to time. He wasn’t used much as a receiver out of the backfield at USC, but when the ball was thrown his way, he displayed good hands. He needs to improve his ability to effectively pickup the blitz and probably will not be a three down back in the NFL until he gets that down. LenDale White is the best power running back in the draft. He will be a first round pick and he has a chance to be selected very high in the first with good pre-draft workouts.