Ball State University Athletics
Jacob White Returns As Football Defensive Graduate Assistant
March 17, 2023 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Another Ball State football letterwinner is returning home, as head coach Mike Neu announced Jacob White as the program's new defensive graduate assistant. White will work with the defensive line and linebackers.
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White, who spent the past two seasons as a member of the Butler football staff, played for the Cardinals from 2015-19 and started 32 games over his collegiate career. A 2019 First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection, White finished his senior season ranked fifth in the league and 16th nationally in tackles per game (9.8), totaling 117.
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"I am thrilled to welcome Jacob back to our Ball State football family," Neu said. "He is an intense competitor whose drive and passion for the sport will resonate with our student-athletes. His focus on the behind-the-scenes preparation will help our players shine on game days."
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White started his stint at Butler as the secondary assistant for the 2021 season. After spending the 2022 spring camp as the safeties coach, he took over as outside linebacker and punt block coach for the fall.
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His work helped Butler improve from 3-8 his first season to 7-4 this past year. In addition, the Bulldogs finished the 2022 campaign ranked 17th nationally among FCS teams in first-down defense and 23rd in scoring defense.
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White began coaching in 2014 at Hinsdale Central High School as a freshman assistant while grey-shirting his eligibility until January of 2015. He also contributed as the sophomore defensive assistant in 2020 for his alma mater after his time as a Cardinals linebacker.
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White began his Ball State career as a redshirt in 2015, before seeing action in 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2016. He started 11 games as middle linebacker in 2017 and was named a team captain, a title he would hold for the remainder of his career. Despite suffering a broken bone in his right hand early in the year, White played the last nine games of his redshirt sophomore season with a cast and led the team with 72 tackles.
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White earned All-MAC Third Team accolades as a redshirt junior in 2018, starting the first nine games before another injury limited him down the stretch. He still finished the season tied for fifth on the team with 66 tackles.
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In addition to earning First Team All-MAC honors as a senior, White was named the 2019 Ball State Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a two-time Academic All-MAC Selections and a two-time recipient of the Ball State Dave McLain Leadership Award.
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A three-sport athlete at Hinsdale Central, also playing basketball and baseball, White earned both his bachelor's degree (2018) and MBA (2019) from Ball State.
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White, who spent the past two seasons as a member of the Butler football staff, played for the Cardinals from 2015-19 and started 32 games over his collegiate career. A 2019 First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection, White finished his senior season ranked fifth in the league and 16th nationally in tackles per game (9.8), totaling 117.
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"I am thrilled to welcome Jacob back to our Ball State football family," Neu said. "He is an intense competitor whose drive and passion for the sport will resonate with our student-athletes. His focus on the behind-the-scenes preparation will help our players shine on game days."
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White started his stint at Butler as the secondary assistant for the 2021 season. After spending the 2022 spring camp as the safeties coach, he took over as outside linebacker and punt block coach for the fall.
Â
His work helped Butler improve from 3-8 his first season to 7-4 this past year. In addition, the Bulldogs finished the 2022 campaign ranked 17th nationally among FCS teams in first-down defense and 23rd in scoring defense.
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White began coaching in 2014 at Hinsdale Central High School as a freshman assistant while grey-shirting his eligibility until January of 2015. He also contributed as the sophomore defensive assistant in 2020 for his alma mater after his time as a Cardinals linebacker.
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White began his Ball State career as a redshirt in 2015, before seeing action in 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2016. He started 11 games as middle linebacker in 2017 and was named a team captain, a title he would hold for the remainder of his career. Despite suffering a broken bone in his right hand early in the year, White played the last nine games of his redshirt sophomore season with a cast and led the team with 72 tackles.
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White earned All-MAC Third Team accolades as a redshirt junior in 2018, starting the first nine games before another injury limited him down the stretch. He still finished the season tied for fifth on the team with 66 tackles.
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In addition to earning First Team All-MAC honors as a senior, White was named the 2019 Ball State Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a two-time Academic All-MAC Selections and a two-time recipient of the Ball State Dave McLain Leadership Award.
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A three-sport athlete at Hinsdale Central, also playing basketball and baseball, White earned both his bachelor's degree (2018) and MBA (2019) from Ball State.
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