Marquez White, a junior cornerback from Dothan, Alabama, entered Florida State in 2013 as a member of the football and basketball teams but chose to drop basketball and commit fully to football after his freshman season. The move seems to have paid off as Jimbo Fisher told the media after Thursday's practice that White is in position to start the 2015 season as the starting punt returner, extolling his "phenomenal ball skills".
When asked what he has done to prove that he can handle being the starting punt returner for Florida State, White boasted, "I haven't dropped a punt all camp. I just try to field every punt. Wherever it's at, I try to field it."
In addition to his punt returning duties, White remains listed as the starting cornerback opposite of Jalen Ramsey on Florida State's depth chart entering the final weekend before the season begins on September 5th against Texas State. Despite the daunting task of playing opposite Ramsey, White feels he is ready for the moment, praising Ramsey and himself by saying, "Jalen is the reason that I'm going to catch eight or nine picks this year, hopefully."
With many younger, highly-touted defensive backs waiting in the wings for their opportunity, this year is likely White's chance to come into his own and earn his place. From all that he is saying, he seems ready for the opportunity.