Height / Weight / Position: 6’0 / 180 / WR
Noreel White is a wide receiver from St. Martin High School in Ocean Springs, Miss. As of Aug. 26, White is ranked by the 247Sports consensus as the No. 352 overall player nationally and the No. 27 overall ATH.
What Ole Miss is getting:
Unlike a lot of the other players at the top of the Rebels’ recruiting class, White is not the most physically imposing recruit nationally. His physical strengths are evident, but for now it is worth mentioning that White is not a limitless prospect.
Primarily, his speed will not be elite, but it is also something that should not be ignored. He does well against his current competition, but the question is, will he be able to do it against the best of the best in college football?
Secondly, White may be somewhat maxed out physically. According to Cooper Petagna of 247Sports, “(White) appears to possess limited growth potential to add additional weight to his frame.”
Should this concern Rebel fans? Not really. All this means is that White will not turn into the next DK Metcalf or AJ Brown. Overall, his physical profile is good, as his measurables are similar to former Alabama and current Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith.
On the other hand, White is built to be a QB’s best friend. He shows great short-area quickness and does a good job getting extra yards after the catch. “Springy” is the first word that comes to mind when watching White’s tape.
His acceleration is great, he changes direction with efficiency and he has a few clips where he shows off his vertical leap. He is exactly what you would want from a modern slot receiver.
Deebo Samuel comparisons are overused for YAC players, but I think White shares some similarities with another 49er in Brandon Aiyuk. Even though Aiyuk has a little more long distance speed and general athleticism, White can fill a similar role.
White also has experience playing a number of positions at the high school level. He obviously shines as a receiver, but has contributed positively on defense and as a quarterback. I see athleticism and versatility as the two best on-field predictors of success from high school to college football, so White checks a lot of boxes.
College Outlook:
White perfectly compliments current freshman Ayden Williams. Williams is a physically imposing deep threat who stretches out defenses vertically, while White will be more successful in the slot.
White should be able to contribute relatively early in his career. He plays hard and will quickly become a fan favorite in Oxford; he will be a guy who is remembered fondly on campus.
