Meet Donovan White: Gators student athletic trainer, former Sebring High kicker made mark in recent tryouts
Saturday, October 31, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- When the Gators face Georgia this afternoon here at EverBank Field, Austin Hardin and recent walk-on addition Neil MacInnes won't be the only kickers on the sideline.
Donovan White, one of the finalists to emerge from the 216 people who signed up for Florida's recent midseason kicker tryouts, will be performing his regular job as a member of Florida's training staff.
His nickname around the team is "Water Boy."
"I'm used to running around at practice, if guys get blood on them, wiping it off and stuff like that,'' White said. "It was definitely different kicking on the practice field."
A senior at UF, White is studying to become an athletic trainer and has served as a student trainer for multiple Florida athletic programs.
Still, he is a kicker at heart.
A two-year starter at Sebring High, White once kicked a 52-yard field goal in high school and won a state title as a high jumper. He also played soccer all four years at Sebring.
White has been taking reps at practice the past two weeks with MacInnes and former Gainesville High kicker Dallas Stubbs since backup-turned-starter Jorge Powell was lost for the season due to a knee injury.
While White won't be in uniform today, he could factor into Florida's kicking plans later in the season if Hardin has issues or is injured.
"My strong point in high school when I kicked was definitely kickoffs,'' White said. "I didn't really peak until my senior year. I felt like this is cool, gives me another chance."
