Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – Warren Area High School senior Ben White has dazzled the home crowds at War Memorial Field in recent years with his receiving and return prowess on the gridiron.
White parlayed his talents into an opportunity at the next level, signing on to play at Division III Westminster College this fall.
“After my junior year, I felt like I needed to play more,” White said.
White visited multiple schools in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, ultimately deciding on Westminster.
“It just felt like home,” White said. “It might have been the colors. After all the visits I took, it just felt like the most at home.”
See White’s full interview here:
White alluded to the colors, as he will trade blue and white for another set of blue and white.
His play over the last two years certainly caught the attention of college coaches. His speed is apparent to anyone who has watched him play, as he has also starred for the Dragon track and field team over the last four years.
On the football field in 2021, he had 32 receptions for 769 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 24.0 yards per reception.
That performance landed him a spot on the D9and10sports.com All-District 10 team at receiver, as well as first-team All-Region honors.
He was also a threat to score every time he touched the ball in the return game,, which included an electric touchdown against General McLane in the regular season this past season.
His head coach for the last four years, Mark Morelli, noted White’s steady improvement throughout his high school career.
“Ben is one of those kids in our program who just got better each year,” Morelli said. “He dedicated himself to improving and his work ethic paid off.”
Morelli also spoke of White’s leadership qualities.
“His junior and senior years he really made a name for himself with his game-changing ability and speed,” Morelli noted. “Teams had to game plan for him and be aware of where he was. Westminster is not only getting a great athlete but they are also getting a respectable young man with the academics to go with it. He will do well at Westminster.”
White will enter a program under the direction of head coach Scott Benzel that went 8-3 in 2021, and while he is looking ahead, he also will take with him the lessons that he learned in high school and apply them to the college game.
“Just enjoy it as much as you can,” White said. “It goes by fast.”
