It’s the end of the line for Blake White ’25 as the quarterback for Wabash College. After a collision in the backfield with three defenders in an awkward position, White left Frank Navarro field with a shoulder injury in the third quarter during the team’s Homecoming game against Ohio Wesleyan. Little did he know, that would be the final time he put on his uniform for the Little Giants.
White has shown incredible mental fortitude throughout the process of injury diagnosis, surgery and transitioning out of the starting quarterback role that was his for only two short games of his collegiate career. Despite finding out his season was over before the team’s game against the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, White decided to withhold the information until after the game so as to not distract his teammates from their primary goal of the weekend: winning.
“I didn’t want them to think about anything at the moment [about me],” said White. “Platteville is a pretty good team, and I didn’t think it was the right thing to do to put that on their mind before facing that type of opponent.”
As another demonstration of his commitment to Wabash football, White was already back with the team the day after his injury, leading in the best way he knows how: by example.
“We lifted weights Sunday, and he was at the lift,” said Head Football Coach Don Morel. “That’s vintage Blake. He really has taken on the job of trying to help the young quarterbacks and get them ready. Quarterback is the hardest position in any sport to play, and he has taken 10,000 reps. So he’s really helpful.”
A three-year backup behind legendary Wabash quarterback Liam Thompson ’24, the 2024 football season was supposed to be White’s time to shine. With those chances now gone, White has transitioned instantly into a quarterback coaching role, educating and preparing the next quarterback up –Brand Campbell ’27. White has already committed to preparing Campbell to step into the pocket as the new Wabash starting quarterback for the remainder of the Little Giants’ fall campaign. Giving tips on timing, footwork and reads, White’s extensive experience running the Little Giants offense will be critical in getting Campbell up to speed to start at the Division III level.
“What Blake is really good at is grabbing the quarterbacks and saying, ‘We ran Trey Right 61 All-Go, you should have thrown the drop out.’” said Morel. “On Saturday [against Platteville], I could hear him screaming all the time, ‘Read, the Mike!’ It’s that instant feedback, and he does it in real time. He’s screaming out onto the field, trying to help those guys. He’s a consummate Wabash man.”
“Whenever [Brand] is taking reps, I usually stand behind him looking at his feet, making sure he’s making the right reads,” said White. “And if he’s making mistakes, I coach him through them, applauding him when he does well. Everything’s happening really fast, so I want to make sure he’s calm and we’re both on the same page when he steps onto the field.”
In spite of all these setbacks, White remains confident and optimistic in his own recovery and the team’s overall potential for this football season.
“The program is bigger than just one player, and we haven’t changed the offense at all,” said White. “ I think regardless of whether or not I’m playing, our goals are to win the conference, bring the Bell back home and make a run in the tournament. We still have plenty of great athletes and experience out there.”
While the timing for White could not be worse, the Little Giants football team has weathered the change well. Campbell led Wabash in the second half against Ohio Wesleyan to a 30-13 win, and played well despite losing to UW-Platteville 42-21. What the rest of the season will look like is a toss-up. With White’s tutelage and plenty of first-string snaps, both in game and in practice, Campbell and the Little Giants offense will look to maintain Wabash’s dominance in the conference, placing the team in a strong position at the end of the season to vie for a conference championship and beat DePauw in the 130th Monon Bell Classic in Blackstock Stadium.
“I’m good with the situation we’re in right now,” said Morel. “Because it’s just going to get us better and better, and we will be seasoned for that final stretch.”