By Robert Wilson
Ryan White Jr. has made a habit of making pancakes this season. And we aren’t talking about at IHOP.
The Germantown High senior offensive tackle has dominated opposing defensive lineman with pancake blocks – blocking a defender to the ground and flatten him like a pancake – often this season.
And Friday night, White had a career night.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound White had 11 pancake blocks, and was a big reason why Germantown produced 526 total yards (425 rushing and 101 passing) and defeated Oxford 43-34 in the first round of the MHSAA Class 7A playoffs at Oxford.
For his outstanding performance, White has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
White’s performance helped Germantown win its first playoff game since the school moved up to the biggest classification six years ago. Also, Germantown was the No. 4 seed in Region 2 and Oxford was the No. 1 seed in Region 1. Germantown lost to Oxford 47-44 in the first round of the playoffs last season.
White now has 70 pancake blocks this season for 7-4 Germantown, its first winning season since it moved up the largest class.
“Ryan is a stud,” Germantown coach Russell Mitchell said. “He grades out well every week. Ryan has the size the big schools want in an offensive lineman. What separates him from the other offensive lineman recruits is the way he plays in my opinion. Ryan’s violent and aggressive on the field. He plays with a great pad level. More importantly, Ryan is an awesome teammate. He leads the way for the younger guys. Ryan is easy to coach. He’s a really good student, too.”
“Ryan leads us in pancake blocks every week, usually between six and nine, but he did his best last week,” said first-year Germantown offensive line coach Chris Lee, who also was the offensive coordinator at Harrison Central last season and coached offensive line at Oak Grove. “Not only did he have his highest number of pancake blocks, but he also played some on defense last week. Ryan embodies all the characteristics of a great offensive lineman. He’s consistent, selfless, and plays the game with violent intent. Ryan leads by example in everything he does and has been a major part of our success offensively this season. I feel extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to coach him.”
White has Division I offers from Jackson State, Mississippi Valley, Central Arkansas, Nicholls State, Northwestern (La.) State and Southern Illinois and all the Mississippi community colleges.
White is the son of Ryan White Sr. and Chanzie White. Ryan Sr. played football at Yazoo County and graduated from Jackson State. Chanzie graduated from Southern Miss. White has two sisters, A’mere Holt a senior at Germantown and Kaylee White a freshman at Germantown who is on the powerlifting team. White has three cousins who play college football, free safety Jalen Freeman at West Georgia, wide receiver Dajon Reynolds at Pittsburgh and offensive guard Tyler Johnson at Davidson Davie Community College in North Carolina.
Germantown plays Madison County rival Madison Central in the quarterfinals of the 7A state playoffs Friday at Madison Central.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a football player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
WEEK ONE: Samuel Stockett, MRA
WEEK TWO: Billy Puckett, Jackson Prep
WEEK THREE: James Farr, Clinton
WEEK FOUR: Tyshun Willis, Velma Jackson
WEEK FIVE: Josef Walker, Clinton
WEEK SIX: Caleb Unger, MRA
WEEK SEVEN: Pierce Ingram, St. Andrew’s
WEEK EIGHT: Justyce Williams, Murrah
WEEK NINE: Daniel Watkins, Northwest Rankin
WEEK TEN: John William Walker, St. Andrew’s
WEEK ELEVEN: Billy Puckett, Jackson Prep
WEEK TWELVE: Myles Miller, Madison Central
WEEK THIRTEEN: Glen Singleton, Madison Central
