Lorenzo White Expects Two More Good Seasons

Lorenzo White, Michigan State’s talented tailback, did not win the Heisman Trophy this year, but he thinks he can get it next year. And the year after, for that matter.

After all, as a sophomore, White led the nation in rushing, chalking up 1,908 yards on the ground for a sensational 173.5-yard average per game--exceeding even Heisman recepient Bo Jackson of Auburn (1,644 yards for a 164.4 average).

“I feel like I can win a Heisman each of the next two years,” White said. “I’m going to do everything I can to advance that goal.”

Only Ohio State’s Archie Griffin has won college football’s most coveted prize twice, winning the Heisman in 1974 and 1975.

White, 19, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native, also scored 17 touchdowns and ran for more than 100 yards 10 times in 1985, with four games over 200 yards. But this wasn’t his year for him to grab the Heisman.

His statistics were unmatched in the 1985 collegiate ranks, but, coming from a middle echelon Big Ten school, the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder never received the hype lavished upon Jackson and Iowa quarterback Chuck Long. And no sophomore has ever won the Heisman.

“It didn’t bother me,” White said of missing out on the Heisman. “I’ll use what I did this year as my hype for next year.”

Georgia Tech Coach Bill Curry, whose team faces White in last weekend’s All-American Bowl, said: “He has the capacity to make 90-degree cuts at full speed and accelerate again without even missing a beat. I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone since Gale Sayers or O.J. Simpson who can do that as well as White does.

“He’s also strong enough and tough enough so when there’s nothing there he’ll just take you on--he can run over you. I think he’s incredible.”