BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - WKU's rising senior quarterback Mike White, Conference USA's reigning Newcomer of the Year, will serve as a quarterback counselor for the 2017 Manning Passing Academy this summer in Thibodaux, La.
The camp, run by Archie Manning and his sons, Cooper, Eli and Peyton, will be held June 22-25 on the campus of Nicholls State University. Each year, the camp selects the most successful and brightest players and coaches from across the country to participate in the camp, now in its 22nd year of operation. Camp counselors, comprised primarily of the nation's elite college quarterbacks, assist in instruction for high school campers at offensive skill positions throughout the week.
Former All-American quarterback Brandon Doughty served as a counselor at the camp prior to the 2015 season.
"I am excited and honored to be selected as a camp counselor for the Manning Passing Academy," White said. "It will be an opportunity of a lifetime to learn from Archie, Peyton, Eli and Cooper while sharing the game we love with the next generation."
Coming into 2016, there was uncertainty at the quarterback position following the departure of Doughty, but White put that question to rest in the season opener -- right around the time he connected with former wide receiver Nicholas Norris on an 87-yard scoring strike against Rice.
After leading the nation's top scoring offense and securing WKU's second consecutive C-USA title, White returns to The Hill as one of the nation's elite passers. White (10.5) and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (11.1) were the only two quarterbacks in the country last season to average 10 yards or better per passing attempts, a Conference USA single-season record, and White's 181.4 passer rating not only ranked No. 3 nationally and second all-time in C-USA history, it also set a single-season school record. And, White's 4,363 passing yards were No. 5 nationally.
First-year Hilltopper head coach Mike Sanford has a history of tutoring elite quarterbacks to NFL futures, as he worked with Doughty in 2010, Stanford quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Kevin Hogan, and Notre Dame quarterback Deshone Kizer. All four quarterbacks are now on NFL rosters, and Sanford sees the same ability from his senior signal caller.
"Mike has all the characteristics you want in an elite quarterback and leader of your football team," Sanford said. "The Manning Academy is a gathering of the game's best, and this is an honor for Mike and for our program to see him included in the event. We think he has a tremendous future and can't wait to get back to work in preparation for this fall."
Sanford, White, and the 2017 Hilltoppers open the season on September 2 against in-state foe Eastern Kentucky at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.
