THE FLATS – Keion White (Garner, N.C./Garner H.S.) became Georgia Tech’s highest National Football League Draft pick in 11 years when the New England Patriots selected the Yellow Jackets’ defensive end with the 15th pick of the second round (No. 46 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday night in Kansas City.
#️⃣4️⃣6️⃣
😤 @good_vib3z
🗣️ @Patriots📺 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/pK1cbW0Uyn
— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) April 29, 2023
White is Georgia Tech’s highest NFL draft pick since wide receiver Stephen Hill was selected by the New York Jets with the 43rd overall pick in 2012. White also becomes the highest selection by a Tech defender since Derrick Morgan was picked No. 16 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2010 Draft.
At 6-foot-5, 281 pounds, White racked up 122 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks over the course of his collegiate career, which included two seasons at Old Dominion (2018-19) and two at Georgia Tech (2021-22). He began his career at ODU as a tight end, but in his first season on the defensive side of the ball, he ranked among the top 10 in NCAA Division I FBS with 19 tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2019.
Bringing the pressure to the Pats.@good_vib3z | @GeorgiaTechFB pic.twitter.com/GYL7EEeQ54
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 29, 2023
After ODU canceled its season in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, White transferred to Georgia Tech, but was limited to just four games in 2021 due to an offseason injury. Playing at full strength as a senior in 2022, White had a monster season for the Yellow Jackets, racking up 54 total tackles, 14 TFL and 7.5 sacks while starting all 12 games. Following his ultra-productive senior campaign, he was named third-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference and earned invitations to the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine.
VIDEO: Keion White highlights (2022)
White is the 224th NFL Draft pick in Georgia Tech history, but one of only 29 to be selected in the first or second round.
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