2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ricky White

Last Updated: 1/21/2025

Career Stats

Summary

After a traditional freshman campaign, Ricky White redshirted his sophomore season before transferring to UNLV. Upon his arrival there, he exploded onto the scene, topping out in 2023 where he amassed 1,483 receiving yards leading the Mountian West Conference. This past year (among turbulent quarterback play), White managed a second straight 1,000-yard season and set a career-high 11 receiving touchdowns.

White is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound wide receiver known for his tenacity and speed. He excels at creating separation with his speed, starting with his quick release off the line of scrimmage, where he frequently throws defensive backs off balance in press coverage. Even when defenders manage to get their hands on him, White uses his physicality and hand-fighting skills to maintain his route. When facing zone coverage his natural ability to find soft spots in zones allows him to get open easily. Additionally, his ability to leverage his speed and quickness to attack defenders’ leverage, creates optimal separation on crossers or soft-breaking routes.

His ability to decelerate sharply and accelerate out of breaks allows him to consistently overcome his hip stiffness on hard-breaking routes like curls and hitches. On deep routes, he displays good ball tracking and positioning. White is also effective in scramble drills, finding soft spots in the defense and adjusting to the quarterback’s movements to stay available.

At the catch point, White’s consistency is a bit of a concern, as he occasionally struggles with drops. Stemming from a lack of soft hands when attacking the ball. However, he plays through contact well and is very tough across the middle of the field. His ability to high-point the ball, combined with great body control, results in highlight-reel catches. He also excels at catching passes both inside and outside his frame while in stride, allowing him to pick up significant yards after the catch. His twitch, explosiveness and speed help him break free for big plays, making him a dangerous threat with the ball in hand.

One thing that makes White a very intriguing prospect is his special team ability, he was a punt-blocking machine in 2024. This versatility will make him a coach’s dream and is a route to finding himself on an NFL roster easily.

Strengths

• Route running
• Explosive speed
• Versatility

Weaknesses

• Hands
• Deep field routes

Honors and Awards

• First Team All-America by the Action Network (2023)
• Second Team All-American by the College Football Network (2023)
• Third Team All-American by the Associated Press (2023)
• First Team All-Mountain West (2023,2024)
• Second Team All-American at WR by College Football Network (2024)
• Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year (2024)

Athletic Testing

• 40-yard dash: TBD
• Vertical: TBD
• Broad Jump: TBD
• Three-cone: TBD
• Shuttle: TBD
• Bench: TBD

NFL Role Prediction

• Z wide receiver

Fantasy Outlook

Ricky White has all of the tools to be a viable receiver at the NFL level. His ability to create with the ball in his hands makes him a big play waiting to happen. He will fit best as a “z” receiver who can draw off coverage and attack the defender’s leverage or cushion. It may take a little bit for White to establish himself as a viable fantasy asset, but playing second fiddle to a true “x” receiver in a potent offense could generate weekly viability.

Player Comparisons

• Jerry Jeudy
• Jakobi Meyers
• Keenan Allen