Stylez G. White

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This article is about the American football player. For the American basketball coach, see Greg White (basketball coach).

Stylez G. White
No. 91
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1979-07-25) July 25, 1979 (age 44)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school:Malcolm X Shabazz
(Newark, New Jersey)
College:Minnesota
NFL draft:2002 / Round: 7 / Pick: 229
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:137
Sacks:24.0
Forced fumbles:8
Player stats at NFL.com · ArenaFan.com

Stylez G. White (born Gregory Alphonso White Jr. on July 25, 1979) is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft.[1] He played college football at Minnesota.

White was also a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Orlando Predators.

College career[edit]

White left New Jersey to attend the University of Minnesota. White played for the Gophers from 1998 to 2001; recording 132 total tackles and 11 quarterback sacks. He led the team with eight tackles-for- loss, five quarterback sacks and five forced fumbles his senior year and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. White played defensive end and line backer which is what he was known for in college.

Professional career[edit]

Houston Texans[edit]

White was drafted in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.[2] He signed with the team in June,[3] and made an instant impact during the preseason. In a 13-10 win over the New Orleans Saints, White recorded 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles[4] in a single game. "You have to be in the right place at the right time doing the right job," White said "I like this a lot. Hopefully I'll do a lot more pass rushing."[5] White was waived by the team on August 25, 2002.[6]

Cologne Centurions[edit]

White spent the 2005 season playing for the Cologne Centurions of the NFL Europe. He recorded 7 sacks for a total of 56 yards lost, leading the entire league in both categories that year.[7]

White then spent the NFL preseason with the Chicago Bears. He turned in a 2 sack performance in a 6-16 loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Bears last game of the preseason. "Hopefully I displayed enough to get a shot on this team" said White after the game.[8] He was waived the following day.[9]

Orlando Predators[edit]

In January 2006, White signed a contract to play for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. In his 2-year stint in Orlando, White compiled 17 sacks, including an AFL-record 15 in 2007. He was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Year in 2007.

Second stint with Buccaneers[edit]

2007[edit]

After the Predators were eliminated from the 2007 playoffs, Head Coach Jay Gruden (the younger brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden) recommended White to the Buccaneers head coach, who promptly invited him to training camp with the team.[citation needed]

White was further enticed back to Tampa by Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin, who promised him a real shot at making the roster instead of simply being another (training) "camp body".[10]

After making the cut at training camp, White was instantly thrust into the limelight on the Buccaneers defensive line. The release of veteran Pro Bowl end Simeon Rice shortly before the start of the pre-season, injuries to free agent acquisition Patrick Chukwurah and the fact that top five 2007 NFL Draft pick Gaines Adams was deemed not ready led to White seeing extended playing time on the field.

In the game against the Atlanta Falcons in November 2007 White turned in a career performance. Starting opposite fellow rookie Adams, he sacked Falcons QB Byron Leftwich twice and forced two fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Ronde Barber. The Bucs won the game 31–7 to take a 2-game lead at the top of the NFC South. After the game, Coach Jon Gruden was quoted as saying:

Every time he makes a play, I can hear my brother up in the press box saying: 'I told you so.' But he's a good kid, a good guy, a hard worker, and he does have natural pass-rush ability. He's raw a little bit in terms of the big picture, but I give a lot of credit to Greg White. We got him late in training camp, and he's made a real impression on all of us.[11]

White ended the 2007 season, his first with the Buccaneers, leading the team with 8 sacks despite starting only 2 games.[12]

He also led the team that year with 7 forced fumbles,[13] tied with Broderick Thomas for the most in franchise history in a single year.[14] White tied James Harrison for second in the NFL that year for forced fumbles, despite Harrison starting all 16 games and White starting just two. Harrison was named to the Pro Bowl for the season.[15]

2008[edit]

An exclusive-rights free agent in the 2008 offseason, White signed his one-year, $370,000 tender offer on July 26. White later signed a new three-year, $2.845 million contract on September 15, 2008, with the possibility to earn more money in incentives. White was set to become a free agent in 2011.

White finished the 2008 season with 5 sacks, tied for second most on the team.[16]

2009[edit]

For the 2009 season, White again led the Buccaneers in sacks with 6.5.[17] Through Week 8, his first stint as a starting player, he also led the team with 28 quarterback pressures.[18]

2010[edit]

In 2010, his last with the Buccaneers, White recorded 4.5 sacks, leading the team for the third time in his four years in Tampa. He also finished the year tied for most forced fumbles on the team with 2[19]

Minnesota Vikings[edit]

On August 22, 2011, White signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He was released on September 2, 2011.[20]

Virginia Destroyers[edit]

White was signed by the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League on October 12, 2011.

Personal life[edit]

On December 15, 2008, it was revealed that the Hillsborough County Circuit Court had approved White's request to legally change his name from Gregory Alphonso White Jr. to Stylez G. White.[21] According to White, the inspiration for the change came from a character in the 1985 Michael J. Fox film Teen Wolf.[21]

At the start of the 2022 NFL season, White began writing a weekly column covering the Buccaneers for the St. Pete Catalyst.[22] He returned for a second year of coverage in 2023.

Legacy[edit]

The Official Buccaneers website ranks White as the best player in franchise history to wear the number 91[23]

FanSided ranked White as the 10th best pass rusher in Buccaneers franchise history.[24]

In 2019, the Tampa Bay Times ranked White as the 71st greatest Buccaneer of all time.[25]

White's seven forced fumbles in 2007 are tied for most in a single season in Buccaneers franchise history (Broderick Thomas 1991),[14] and as of 2023 are the most in the past 30 seasons.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Former Gopher Greg White Earns AFL Defensive Player of the Week Honors - University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  3. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/330771385/?terms=%22greg%20white%22%20texans&match=1
  4. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/687183508/?terms=%22greg%20white%22%20texans&match=1
  5. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/612152438/?terms=%22greg%20white%22%20texans&match=2
  6. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/434370788/?terms=%22greg%20white%22%20texans&match=1
  7. ^ https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfle/cologne-centurions/stats/2005
  8. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/205567410/?terms=%22greg%20white%22%20bears&match=1
  9. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/205578699/?terms=%22greg%20white%22%20bears&match=1
  10. ^ "Throwback Thursday with Stylez G. White". June 20, 2019.
  11. ^ "First-place Buccaneers not taking anything for granted in weak NFC South". USA Today. November 20, 2007. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  12. ^ "BUCPOWER.COM". www.bucpower.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  13. ^ "2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  14. ^ a b "1991 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  15. ^ https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/defense.htm
  16. ^ "2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  18. ^ "Tampa Bay Times 19 Dec 2009, page 16".
  19. ^ "2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  20. ^ "Jaymar Johnson, Stylez G. White among early Vikings cuts". September 3, 2011.
  21. ^ a b "Bucs Report -Tribune staff Sports - from TBO.com Blogs". Tboblogs.com. December 15, 2008. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  22. ^ "Stylez White".
  23. ^ "The Best Buccaneers Players by Jersey Number 91-99".
  24. ^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 15 greatest pass rushers in franchise history". June 11, 2019.
  25. ^ https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2019/10/19/ranking-the-100-greatest-bucs-the-countdown-continues/

External links[edit]

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