Former Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College star linebacker Chris White will be inducted into the Mississippi Bowl Hall of Fame at ceremonies during the banquet on Dec. 1 and the game on Dec. 3.
The 10th Mississippi Bowl, which will determine the NJCAA national championship, will be played at A.L. May Memorial Stadium in Perkinston. Kickoff between No. 1 East Mississippi and No. 2 Arizona Western is at 2 p.m.
White led Gulf Coast to a 41-7 win over Georgia Military in the first-ever Mississippi Bowl in 2008. He was named Mississippi Bowl Player of the Year following a season in which he won NJCAA All-American First Team honors.
The Vancleave High School product played the next two seasons at Mississippi State, starting all 25 games. He made 75 total tackles as a junior, including four tackles for loss, and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
White led Mississippi State with 110 tackles as a senior, including 15.5 for losses and six sacks. He intercepted two passes and had another fumble recovery. White played in the Senior Bowl after being selected to the All-SEC First Team by the Association Press. He also won the Conerly Trophy as the top football player in the state.
The Buffalo Bills picked White in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He had eight tackles and a forced fumble in eight games his rookie season before being sidelined by a torn knee ligament.
He returned in 2012 to play in 15 games for the Bills, making 11 tackles.
He played 29 games for the New England Patriots in 2013 and 2014, winning a Super Bowl title with the Patriots in 2014.
White has retired from football and now lives in Rochester, N.Y.
Mississippi Bowl Hall of Fame
2014: Malcolm Tatum, Mississippi Gulf Coast
2015: Greg Jenkins, Mississippi Gulf Coast
2016: Randall Mackey, East Mississippi
2017: Chris White, Mississippi Gulf Coast
