TJ White

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-2, 237 lbs. Taller than 44% and heavier than 99% of 2026 Linebacker prospects in the SEC Scouts database (207 with a listed size).

Play Style

On film he is an aggressive, downhill defender who plays in the backfield. Whether lined up on the edge or blitzing from depth, he attacks the corner hard, pushes quarterbacks out of the pocket and chases the ball carrier with real urgency. He does not dodge contact: he beats blocks with his hands and pad level, then uses his burst to finish the play. On stunts and delayed pressures he times his rush well and hits open gaps quickly. When he drops into coverage, he reads receivers passing through his zone instead of just running to a landmark, which is uncommon for a high school player used mainly as a pass rusher.

Strengths

• Block destruction: 247Sports' evaluation calls him one of the best in the class at beating blocks with power and leverage. He shows 'suddenness and unexpected power' against offensive tackles instead of just running around them.
• Pass-rush value from a linebacker frame: he posted 11 and 12 sacks in back-to-back seasons and 21.5 and 22 TFL. He can flatten and turn the corner while keeping his momentum, and he is especially effective on delayed stunts and blitzes up the middle.
• Coverage versatility for a player his size: he is comfortable dropping into space and shows good pattern-matching feel in zone coverage. That gives him on-ball and off-ball flexibility and makes him a possible chess piece who can play as a SAM, a stand-up edge or a pressure linebacker.
• Motor and consistency: his effort never lets up. He had 102 tackles as a junior and 88 as a senior, and his production held up in big games, including 10 tackles, 4 TFL and 2.5 sacks against rival Jackson Prep in the 2024 playoffs.

Areas to Improve

• Level of competition: his production came in the MAIS (Mississippi's private-school association), not the MHSAA's top classifications. He needs to show his leverage and block-shedding hold up against SEC offensive linemen and backs who can match his power, not just overpower smaller blockers.
• Off-ball processing: because he spent so much time working downhill and rushing the passer, his reads between the tackles, his fits against run blocking that flows sideways, and his technique in man coverage against backs and tight ends need more reps. Coaches still need to settle whether his long-term home is off the ball or on the edge.
• Top-end speed: his 11.65 in the 100m is solid but not elite. His range from sideline to sideline, and his ability to carry vertical routes from off-ball alignments, will depend on quick reads more than pure speed.

College Projection

He enrolled at Tennessee early in January 2026 and went through spring practice. That head start showed up in the fall: he made his debut against Furman on 9/5 with three tackles and played special teams at Georgia Tech on 9/12. In 2026, expect special-teams snaps plus a situational role as a third-down pressure player or rotating SAM/edge linebacker. With a year of strength and technique work, he projects as a starter or a heavy-rotation player by 2027. His ceiling is an every-down hybrid linebacker who stays on the field for all three downs, rushing on passing downs and dropping or filling gaps on early downs.

NFL Outlook

His traits already fit the NFL's current push for versatile linebackers who can both rush the passer and cover. A 6-2/230+ frame with a fast get-off, block-shedding power and some zone-coverage ability lines up with the off-ball or SAM hybrid role NFL teams value in multiple-front defenses. If he turns his high school sack production into consistent SEC pressure while staying reliable in coverage, he has Day 2 upside, with Day 1 possible if he develops into a true edge-plus-coverage weapon. The main risk is getting labeled a 'tweener' if coaches never settle his position. His draft stock will depend on Tennessee giving him a clear, defined role by his second or third year.

Best Fit

An aggressive, multiple-front defense that moves its linebackers around and blitzes often, using a SAM or hybrid 'star' linebacker who can line up on the edge on passing downs and play off the ball on early downs. Tennessee's pressure-heavy scheme under Tim Banks is a natural fit. He would be less valuable in a conservative, read-first two-gap system that keeps linebackers stacked in the box and asks them to wait instead of attack.