Tre’Davious White proud to wear LSU’s coveted No. 18

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The No. 4 cornerback in the nation out of Green Oaks High and the No. 1 player in Louisiana by Rivals.com in 2013, White has had no major injuries or adversity in his career as other No. 18s. The preseason All-Southeastern Conference second team cornerback got the number 18 based on his Jerry Rice-like work ethic and his focus on team.

“He is the hardest worker I have ever seen,” admiring LSU junior linebacker Duke Riley said.

“He’s a team guy,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “He’s a guy that relates to team, and he’s a leader. He’s an A-B student.”

White has been starting at LSU since early in his freshman season in 2013. Last year, he intercepted two passes and returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown against Kentucky.

“He’s a shutdown corner. He’s going to have a great year,” Miles said.

White, though, thought he would be wearing No. 16 again this season.

“I thought it would go to one of our seniors,” he said. “When coach Miles announced my name, it was a real moment. I feel like it’s an honor to get it, but I feel like I pretty much earned it. It’s a responsibility. And I plan on wearing it with class. It feels great. I’m going to be a great character guy around the team and try to do everything on and off the field the right way.”

White has no plans to change his work ethic either.

“I try to put the extra work in over the summer and in the spring, so when you get to the season, it’s pretty much second nature,” he said. “So it’s not going to be a surprise for me if I have a great year. I try to do all the right things – watching film, going the extra mile and pushing my body to the limits that I didn’t know I had. If you put yourself through hard things in the beginning, toward the back great things will come.”

White is the first defensive back to get the No. 18 since Brandon Taylor of Franklinton in 2011 when the Tigers won the SEC and reached the BCS national championship game at 13-0.

“I like that because that was a great team,” White said. “We need to have that type of season again.”