#19
NIHJA WHITE
Year: Senior
Position:
Wide Receiver
Height /Weight: 6-2 / 215
Hometown: Wayne, Pa.
High School:
Conestoga HS
Major: Leadership
• 2012Delaware Season Statistics
At Delaware: All-American candidate who is already one of the top receivers in Delaware history • fifth-year member of the squad and a three-year letterwinner • dynamic player who is one of the team's most charismatic players • will be second-year starter and third-year regular at S receiver spot • nice target downfield and is among the bigger receivers in the Colonial Athletic Association at 6-2 and 215 lbs. • strong, shifty runner with deceptive speed • isn't afraid to go up in traffic to catch the ball • pre-season first team All-Colonial Athletic Association pick by league coaches • College Football Performance Awards pre-season All-American candidate • College Sporting News pre-season honorable mention All-CAA • ranks No. 22 in the nation among returning players in receiving yards per game • has appeared in 35 career games with 11 starts • has caught 131 passes for 1,663 yards (12.7 avg.) and 12 touchdowns • owns four career 100-yard receiving games • ranks No. 9 all-time at Delaware in receptions, 11th in receiving yardage, and 11th in touchdowns • one of only three players in UD history to record 50 or more catches in a season (Aaron Love in 2005-08; David Boler in 2002-04) and could become first-ever in UD annals to accomplish the feat three times • enters season having caught at least one pass in 33 straight games and could pass record-holder Eddie Conti (38 in 1996-98) and Mark Duncan (35 in 2007-09) • needs 62 receptions to match UD school record of 193 by Love • needs 337 receiving yards to become only seventh player in UD history to reach 2,000 yards and 837 yards to become the fourth with 2,500+ yards • has averaged 3.7 receptions per game for career.
2011 Season: Enjoyed another outstanding season as Delaware's top wide receiver • earned second team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors • appeared in 10 games with nine starts, missing only the West Chester game in Week 2 with an injury • led the team in receptions with 50 and receiving yards with 673 • second on the team with four touchdowns • averaged 5.0 receptions per game (No. 8 all-time at Delaware) and 67.3 receiving yards per game • ranked No. 3 in the CAA and No. 43 in NCAA in receiving yards per game and No. 4 in CAA and No. 44 in NCAA in receptions per game • gained over 50 yards in a game seven times and 100 yards twice • caught seven passes for a season-high 122 yards and a 11-yard touchdown vs. Delaware State • also caught seven passes against Old Dominion for 117 yards and one touchdown and seven passes for 82 yards vs. Villanova • other top performances included six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown vs. Rode Island and six receptions for 85 yards vs. Massachusetts • had season long reception of 59 yards vs. Delaware State • also caught a touchdown pass in win over William & Mary • Blue Hen Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Week for performance against Old Dominion • caught five passes for 76 yards and caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Sasek in the 2011 spring game.
2010 Season: Third-year member of the team • enjoyed outstanding second season as a regular in the Blue Hen offense • proved to be one of Pat Devlin's most reliable targets • saw action in all 15 games • started only game in regular season finale Villanova • led the team in receptions (60), receiving yards (752), and touchdowns (6) and ranked fourth among regulars with a 12.5-yard average • 60 receptions was the seventh highest single-season mark in UD history • ranked No. 7 in the CAA in receptions per game (4.0) and No. 8 in receiving yards per game (50.1) • caught three or more passes nine times and gained over 50 yards seven times • was effective in the post-season, catching 18 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns • reached career-highs with 10 receptions for 146 yards and scored on a 51-yard touchdown down the middle vs. William & Mary • for his efforts was named the Blue Hen Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Week • followed the William & Mary game with another big effort vs. Towson when he caught nine passes for 108 yards and a six-yard touchdown • other top games included catching eight passes for 94 yards and a 24-yard touchdown reception for the go-ahead score in NCAA quarterfinal win over New Hampshire, hauling in seven passes for 84 yards and a touchdown against Villanova, and catching five passes for 73 yards in the NCAA title game loss to Eastern Washington • lost eight yards on only carry of the season vs. Duquesne • team went 12-3 and advanced to the FCS national title game under Keeler.
2009 Season: Second-year team member who saw immediate game action and increased his role late in the season • participated in 10 games for the Blue Hens as a redshirt freshman • made first career start in final game vs. Villanova • was one of five players for the Hens who finished the season with 20 or more receptions • finished fifth on the team in receiving with 21 catches for 238 yards (11.3 avg.) and two touchdowns • first career reception came in the form of a two-yard touchdown catch vs. William & Mary • set season-best marks in yards receiving vs. Massachusetts with 85 yards on four receptions, including a season-long 39-yard catch • finished the year strong with a season-best eight receptions for 55 yards and a four-yard touchdown • also had two receptions for 33 yards against Navy • recorded one tackle on the year • team went 6-5 for Keeler.
2008 Season: Injured for much of pre-season and did not see game action • retained freshman eligibility • team went 4-8 for Keeler.
High School: Played at Conestoga High School for head coach Jon Vogan • also competed four seasons for basketball team as a guard and was a sprinter in track and field • played wide receiver, kick returner, and punt returner at Conestoga • led team to four-year record of 26-11 • team went 11-2 and qualified for district playoffs as a senior in 2007 and also advanced to district playoffs in 2005 • in two varsity seasons caught 103 passes for 2,076 yards and 34 touchdowns • caught 50 passes for 988 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior in 2006 and snared 53 passes for 1,088 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior in 2007 • earned second team Associated Press All-State honors in 2007 and was also selected to the Pennsylvania Football News All-State team, and Philadelphia Inquirer All-Southeastern Pennsylvania team • selected to play in Pennsylvania East-West All-Star Game and Chester County Valor Bowl Game (captain) • named Main Line Life Newspaper Area Player of the Year, Main Line Times first team All-Area, and All-Central League first team • two-time team Offensive Player of the Year • member of school district’s Strategic Planning Committee • earned local Knights of Columbus Leadership Award • honor roll student.
Personal: Nihja (“nigh-juh”) Whitney White • born Jan. 30, 1990 • son of Whitney and Sharon White • leadership major at Delaware • father is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and is a government executive who has worked closely with U.S. presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama • has visited the White House numerous times and met all three presidents • mother is a graduate of Villanova and is an IT executive and photographer • only child • father competed in track at Penn • enjoys reading the collecting sports cards in his spare time • one of the team’s best basketball players • avid lacrosse fan • participated in event at the White House with Vice President Joe Biden in June, 2012 that launched a public service announcement about dating violence.
Career Statistics at Delaware
| Year | GP/GS | Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TD | Long |
| 2011 | 10/9 | 50 | 673 | 13.5 | 4 | 59 |
| 2010 | 15/1 | 60 | 752 | 12.5 | 6 | 51 |
| 2009 | 10/1 | 21 | 238 | 11.3 | 2 | 39 |
| Totals | 35/11 | 131 | 1,663 | 12.7 | 12 | 59 |
Career-High Receiving Yards: 146 yards vs. William & Mary, 2010
