An assist for Newman;Spiders great had hand in recruiting White

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:03 a.m. ET

foxsports

College football: Former Spiders hoops star Newman helped guide QB to UR

UR football helped by hoops

One of the most accomplished players in state basketball history assisted in bringing to the University of Richmond its new starting quarterback.

John Newman, who went from UR to 16 seasons in the NBA, has a son of the same name who starred in basketball at Surry County High with Montel White. The 6-5 White accepted UR's football scholarship, among several offered, in part because John Newman recommended his alma mater to White, according to Surry football coach Ervin Jones.

"Montel is a super individual, not only an athlete, but he's a super kid," said Newman, whose son is a basketball player at Division II Saint Augustine's College, in Raleigh, N.C. "He told me the schools that were involved, schools that were recruiting him. When he said, 'Richmond,' I said, 'OK, the buck needs to stop there.'

"I knew it would be a great place for him, and the most important thing was it's a great academic institution for him."

UR coach Latrell Scott said yesterday that he expects White, whose late-game passing pushed the Spiders (1-2 in the CAA, 3-3) to an 11-10 win at Massachusetts last Saturday, to start vs. Towson (0-3, 1-5) in Richmond's Saturday homecoming game.

White, 18 and a true freshman, played at UMass because UR's other three QBs were injured. White never had participated in a college game, and UR planned to redshirt him.

White completed 4 of 6 passes for 47 yards. All four completions came in the final minute. The Spiders started their decisive scoring drive from their 40, with 1:51 left. White hit Tre Gray with a 15-yard TD pass with 9 seconds left.

"He's a very competitive kid. You have to be proud of the guy to come from the scout team [to] the starting quarterback against a very good UMass defense," Scott said. "The kid is confident. He's poised. He put a great deal of time and energy into learning the game plan and making sure that he mastered it."

Aaron Corp, a USC transfer, seriously injured his knee two weeks ago at New Hampshire and is out for the year. Backup John Laub has a wrist injury, and third-string QB Nick Hicks continues to recover from a concussion. Laub and Hicks may be available Saturday, according to Scott, but White is slated to start.

Jones, the Surry High coach, over the weekend caught a few highlights of White's play at UMass, and saw a postgame interview with the lefty. "Cool and composed, and leadership. He exemplified those things his whole career here at Surry," said Jones. "Beyond his years, beyond his years. He's an exceptionally smart, humble person."

White's older brother, Kenneth, is a reserve defensive back at Randolph-Macon. Montel White only played a few games as a Surry senior because of right knee injury he suffered while making a tackle as a safety.

NOTES: Scott said that Corp, who underwent surgery late last week, may not be cleared for full participation in spring football, but is expected to be involved to some degree in the spring following rehabilitation. . . . The Spiders elevated from No. 20 to No. 16 in the FCS poll following their win at UMass, which was No. 8.

Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or joconnor@timesdispatch.com

****