Memphis QB Brady White points to 'amazing God' as he shifts focus to NFL draft

University of Memphis quarterback Brady White announced on Thursday that he will enter the 2021 NFL Draft. After using one season of eligibility at Arizona State, White played three years at Memphis and could have returned for a fourth, as all NCAA football players were granted an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting this season.

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<

An outspoken Christian, White started his social media post by thanking God.

“First of all, I want to thank the Lord for blessing me more than I could ever have imagined,” White wrote. “I am so grateful for the amazing God that He is, for all He has done for me, and for all the people He has surrounded me with throughout my life. Without Him I know I would not be who or where I am today.”

White leaves Memphis as the school’s all-time leader in wins (28), passing yards (10,690) and passing touchdowns (90). He played in a total of 39 games for the Tigers after transferring from Arizona State. He redshirted the 2015 season and appeared in three games in 2016 before suffering an injury that forced him to miss the remainder of 2016 and all of 2017.

He graduated from ASU with a bachelor’s degree in business in December 2017, then transferred to Memphis the following month. As a graduate transfer, he was eligible immediately for the 2018 season, during which he directed the most prolific offense in Memphis history with 7,324 total yards. He threw for 3,296 yards and 26 TDs.

In 2019, White led Memphis to a program-record 12-2 record and a berth in the Cotton Bowl, as he totaled 4,014 yards and 33 TDs. He graduated in August 2019 with a master’s degree in sports commerce and began pursuing a doctorate degree in liberal studies.

In 2020, White accumulated 3,380 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, and the 24-year-old closed out his decorated college career with a 25-10 victory over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl on Dec. 23. He completed 22 of 34 passes, finishing with 284 yards and three touchdowns. The Tigers won at least eight games and reached a bowl game in all three seasons White was the team’s starting quarterback.

He says his faith in Christ is the source of his confidence on the football field and the reason why he plays.

“I know who I am,” White said in an interview with the Memphis Flyer. “I’m a genuine human being. With that comes belief and confidence. I’m a man of faith. I know who my Creator is, and I know who He created me to be. I play for an audience of One. I love my family, my friends, and all of Tiger Nation, but I look to play for my audience of One, and that’s my Lord and Savior. It frees me up, because I have that peace and comfort as a player.”

The 2019 second-team All-AAC selection ended his post the same way he started it: pointing back to God.

“I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me,” he said. “I’m just getting started. God bless and Go Tigers!”

RELATED STORIES:
Memphis QB Brady White excels on the field as he plays for ‘an audience of One’
Memphis QB Brady White living out ‘God’s plan’ as he leads Tigers to historic season
Memphis’ Riley Patterson knows he has greater purpose in life ‘than just being a kicker’
Steadied by faith in Christ, QB Trevor Lawrence leads Clemson back to CFP
Houston LB Grant Stuard thanks Jesus Christ as he opts to begin preparation for NFL draft