Football
- Title:
- Linebackers/Special Teams Coach
Scott White was named Linebackers/Special Teams coach in February of 2015. He had served on the UCLA staff for the previousย four seasons, most recently in the capacity of defensive quality control. He was named the 2016 Pac-12 Recruiter of the Year by Scout.com.
In 2016, the Bruins defense gained 23 turnovers on the season to rate 38th-best in the nation. It yielded 4.9 yards per play to rank tied for secondย in the Pac-12. The opponent third down conversion rate of 34.7% was also third-best in the league and 20th in the nation.
Linebacker Jayon Brown, chosen by the Tennessee Titans in the 2017 NFL Draft, ย led ย the Pac-12 and ranked among the nation's top 11ย in total tackles (9.9-9th) and solo tackles (5.8-11th) while compiling 119 stops on the season and earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors. It marked the fourth straight year in which at least one Bruin linebacker hadย been taken in the NFL draft. Kenny Young, named to the All-Pac-12 second-team, rated second on the team with 90 tackles and was sixth in the conference in total tackles (7.5/g),14th in sacks (0.4) and 20th in tackles for loss (0.7).
In 2015, the Bruins defense limited opponents to just 4.9 yards per play, on average, the lowest mark in the Pac-12 Conference. Brown topped the team in tackles and ranked among the top 10 in the conference in tackles average per game (8.0). Brown's 18 tackles in the win over Colorado were the most by an individual Pac-12 player during 2015. Linebackers Deon Hollins and Aaron Wallace each earned All-Pac-12 recognition while providing constant pressure on the opposing quarterback. Wallace, selected by Tennessee in the 2016 NFL Draft, tied for third in the Pac-12 in sacks per game (0.58) and was tied for seventh in the league in tackles for loss per game (1.0).
In addition, linebacker Myles Jack, who was limited to just three games due to injury, was a second-round selection of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2016 Draft. It marked the third straight NFL Draft in which at least one Bruin linebacker has been selected. Placekicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was invited to camp with the Houston Texans.
White originally came to UCLA from Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif. where he coached the linebackers. Before his stint at Palomar, he was an assistant football coach at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash.
White attended the University of Washington and was a multiple-season starter at outside linebacker. He played in 45 career games, from 2003-06, for coaches Keith Gilbertson and Tyrone Willingham. White totaled 278 tackles, 38 for loss, with 11 sacks for his career. He also picked off five passes, forced five fumbles and recovered five fumbles.
The San Diego native was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week after recording 10 tackles, three for losses, and two sacks in Washington's 21-10 over Arizona on Oct. 4, 2006, when the Huskies held the Wildcats to minus-seven yards rushing. He earned Sporting News Pac-10 All-Freshman honors in 2003.
White was named San Diego CIF Defensive Player of the Year and San Diego Union-Tribune Defensive Player of the Year in 2001 after compiling 167 total tackles, 11 sacks, four fumble recoveries, two blocked punts and an interception. He also rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball. White helped lead Mission Bay High School to back-to-back CIF-San Diego Section Division II championships in 2000 and 2001.
