MV's White signs to play football at NCAA Div. II Hillsdale College

Two years ago, Nolan White wasn’t even a blip on the radar of NCAA Division I or II schools as a football recruit.

The Mount Vernon senior offensive lineman wasn’t even sure why he was on the football field at that time, or what his future might look like. White started taking things a little more seriously as a junior, then went full bore with his commitment to the game after being named second-team All-Licking County League.

That commitment paid off on Wednesday when White signed his Letter of Intent to play college football at Hillsdale College, an NCAA Div. II school in Hillsdale, Michigan.

“It’s unbelievable. Sophomore year, I don’t know how I was even out there. I was really bad,” White said. “Junior year, I started taking it a little more seriously. Like, maybe I could go to college for football, but it wasn’t something I really felt strongly about. The year after, I just decided to fully commit and (coach Mark) Weber was there every step in the process, every single day with me, just trying to help me get better.”

White’s senior year turned into one dreams are made of — earning first-team All-Ohio honors and helping the Jackets reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Throughout his career, he’s checked all the boxes of success, both on and off the field — all league, all central district, all Ohio, scholar athlete and academic all Ohio.

Mount Vernon coach Mark Weber thought he might have found a diamond in the rough when he first came to MVHS two years ago, but he knew it was going to take work. Once White got a taste of success, the work ethic took over, and things blossomed in a hurry.

“I walk into this place and don’t really know what I’m getting into. There’s a couple of people, really two, but let’s say four. There was Luke (Mullins) and Higgy (Hayden Higgins), and then there was Coen (Armstrong) and Nolan,” Weber said. “The first workout, I’m just gonna walk in and watch. They’re hopping over these PVC pipes and. If you know Nolan, he’s big, so I’m like, we’ve got something to work with. Let’s roll the sleeves up. … He (White) was one of the diamonds we found.”

White had interest from several schools, but Hillsdale was tops on his list. He fell in love with the beauty of the campus and facilities on a visit, which made it an easy choice once the college made an offer.

He is undecided about a major now but is leaning toward business. Even though he’s heading to a much bigger pond with much bigger fish, White is ready to take on that challenge.

“It was a long wait, but I’m just glad to see my work finally pay off. Obviously, I won’t be complacent. I’m still going to try as hard as I can and be the best version of myself,” White said.