Scotland High School’s head football coach, Richard Bailey, received a frantic call on his walkie talkie while watching game film in the school’s fieldhouse. The call was about an unknown man approaching the school grounds in rural Laurinburg, North Carolina.
He wasn’t walking, riding a bike, or driving a car.
“There’s someone on campus riding a horse!” “There’s a man riding a horse on campus!” Bailey heard something over the walkie talkie.
When Scotland’s head coach looked out onto the field, he saw Zamir White, who had just won the 2021 National Championship with Georgia, riding his horse across his old football field, where he had racked up countless rushing yards.
“I said, ‘Guys, that’s just Zamir, we’re all good,'” Bailey chuckled. “He’d just told me, ‘Coach, I’m going to ride up there and see you in a minute,'” I explained. I expected him to drive his car up here, but he rode his horse.”
Zamir White owns more than one horse. He has a total of 12 horses. He keeps them in a stable in his hometown of Laurinburg, where he was the nation’s top-ranked running back in 2018.
“We race them, we breed them, we train them – we do it all,” White said.
White has spent two seasons learning from one of the best, Pro Bowler Josh Jacobs, after a successful collegiate career at the University of Georgia.
“For anybody, SEC football then coming into the league, it’s a speed adjustment for one thing,” said White’s veteran mentor, running back Brandon Bolden. “What I’ll say about Zeus is that he came in head down, didn’t say much, and just worked.” He soaked up as much knowledge as he could. Guys like me, Ameer [Abdullah], Josh – you get Zamir as a result of all three of us.”
What was the most important lesson White learned while learning to fly in the “supportive” running backs room?
“Patience,” he advised. “Just being patient and being yourself.” Simply showing up to work for you every day. Keeping thoughts like, ‘I’m just waiting around,’ at bay. My opportunity will not come.’ Just block it all out and focus on getting better every day.”
The “next man up” was White at that point.
In Week 14’s 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Jacobs was noticeably off. After rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs the previous game, No. 8 was limited to less than three yards per carry against Minnesota due to a quad injury.
With four days to rest before the Thursday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu informed White the evening before the game that he would be starting.
“I said, ‘Cool, let’s do it.'” There were no nerves at all. We don’t get nervous in Georgia, boys. “We just go do it,” White said, laughing.
He totaled 85 scrimmage yards and scored his first touchdown on a one-yard run in his first NFL start. His goal was the first of nine in the game, which the Raiders won by a record-breaking 63-21 score.
“I think Zamir prepared himself each and every week for this opportunity, and he took full advantage of it,” Interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce said just a few days after White’s debut. “What I saw was a physical runner, someone who was moving from pile to pile, straining for every inch, foot, and yard he could get.” Productive in the passing game and pass protection.
“And when you say audition, every day is an audition, that’s football,” he added. “Everyone is on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis….” Take advantage of your opportunities, as he did.”
The following week, in his second start, White sliced and diced the Chiefs defense as the Raiders defeated their division rivals. The second-year running back rushed for 145 yards, averaging nearly seven yards per carry. The following week, he had 76 scrimmage yards on 20 carries against the Indianapolis Colts.
“[H]e’s done great,” interim offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree said. “He did well in the passing game.” He had some chances in the previous game. He’s caught the ball, run well, and protected well, and he’ll continue to develop and become a really good player.”
As Jacobs is ruled out, White’s 2023 season will end on Sunday with a fourth straight victory over the Denver Broncos. White stated that he will let the future take care of itself, hoping that the work he has done thus far will lead to more opportunities in the 2024 season.
“They can see I’m more comfortable out there and I’m not just out there not knowing what to do,” he told reporters. “I know exactly what I’m doing. “I’m confident and ready for anything.”
His approach to earning every snap has been evident since his days as a player at North Carolina.
“The thing about him, he’s not the kind of guy who’ll sit back and gripe about things,” Bailey said. “He’ll be grateful for any and all opportunities that come his way.” And whatever they ask of him, he’ll work his tail off to do it as well as he can. That’s just his personality.”
