Despite setting records in high school at running back and safety Jamal White decided to take a crack at wide receiver when he arrived on Towson’s campus, a decision that made a major difference in his college career and beyond.
“My frame and athletic ability were more suited to be a wide receiver,” Jamal said. “That’s how the coaching staff saw it too.”
As a senior at Triton Regional he led the Mustangs in rushing and tackles, establishing single season records on both sides of the line. He was inducted into the Mustangs Hall of Fame in 2017.
Jamal served an apprenticeship his freshman year with the Tigers, learning how to become a college wide receiver but still managed to catch 34 passes for 418 yards and 4 TD’s, all off the bench. His top effort, six catches for 63 yards and two TD’s including the go-ahead score in a comeback win over St. Mary’s (Calif.) earned him Patriot League Rookie of the Week accolades.
“I ran a lot of hitches and go’s,” he recalled. “As time went on I learned to run more routes. They put me in motion more and I was able to develop into a more complete receiver.”
In his sophomore season he exploded, hauling in a team leading 82 receptions for 1,322 yards, both program records. As a team the Tigers threw for 4,168 yards with quarterback Joe Lee at the controls, the only 4,000-yard passing season in the first 50 years of Tiger Football.
Jamal was showered with postseason honors. He was named first team Associated Press All-American, first team All-ECAC and first team All-Patriot League. The following year he was the Patriot League’s Pre-Season Offensive Player of the Year. Even though his production was down his 49 catches for 524 yards led the Tigers.
His momentum stalled, however, when days before the start of his senior season he suffered a fractured left ring finger that sidelined him for the entire 2001 campaign. He came back though in 2002 to lead the Tigers in receiving for a third year when his 54 receptions vaulted him to the top of Towson’s all-time list with 219 career grabs. He still ranks in the top 10 among the Patriot League;s career receivers.
Jamal’s success was duly noted back home also. He was named the Brooks-Irvine Division I-AA Player of the Year and The Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey’s Offensive Player of the Year following his final season at Towson.
Jamal played briefly with the Canton Legends of the American Indoor Football League but a season-ending injury told him it was time to retire.
Jamal graduated from Towson with a degree in Economics. After football he earned a Master’s degree in Special Education. He taught and coached at Timber Creek Regional in Sicklerville, N.J. where, as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach he mentored a number of receivers who went on to play at Michigan State, Pitt, Temple, Bucknell, Wagner, James Madison and Old Dominion. Among that group was Damiere Byrd who starred at South Carolina before embarking on a NFL career, playing for the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.
