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Maryland Football Countdown: No. 94, Randy White

By Chris Bengel

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Defensive tackle Randy White was one of the most impressive defensive players to ever put on a Maryland jersey. (Mandatory Credit: University of Maryland Archives)

With just 52 days until the Maryland opens the season on Sept. 5, TerrapinStationMD continues our series based on past Terrapins with Randy White next up. We’ll continue to look at the most talented and/or popular player to wear the number and analyze their time in College Park. If you think of a player that had a big impact and is also associated with that number, leave a comment below.

Next on our countdown is No. 96, which just so happens to have been worn by a defensive tackle that had success at Maryland and at the NFL level. Former Terp Randy White was one of the most gifted defensive players to ever call College Park home.

White came from Thomas McKean High School in Wilmington, Del., and was recruited as a fullback. He even played the position during his freshman season with the Terps. However, when new coach Jerry Claiborne took over the following season, he moved White to defensive tackle, where he thought White was a more natural fit.

Fortunately for White, Claiborne realized the kind of athleticism that White had and made sure that White switched positions.

During his time at Maryland, White was an absolute menace to opposing offenses. During his senior season (1974), he registered 24 tackles-for-loss, which was second all-time at Maryland only to E.J. Henderson (28). In 1974, White also won the Lombardi Award (given to the best defensive lineman/linebacker), the Outland Trophy (given to the best interior lineman), and was named the ACC Player of the Year. Maryland played in the Liberty Bowl in White’s senior season, but lost to Tennessee 7-3. Despite the loss, White was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Following his decorated career with the Terps, White was one of the most sought-after prospects in the 1975 NFL Draft. The Delaware native was selected No. 2 overall by the Dallas Cowboys just after the Atlanta Falcons picked California quarterback Steve Bartkowski with the No. 1 selection.

During his 14-year career with the Cowboys, White registered 1,104 tackles (701 solo), 111 sacks, and one interception. He registered 16 sacks during the 1978 season and was one of the key members of the famous “Doomsday Defense.”

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White went to nine consecutive Pro Bowls from 1977-1985 and was an All-Pro in all nine of those seasons as well. The former Terp was also the Co-MVP of Super Bowl XII and was one of just seven defensive players to be awarded the honor. White was also an NFC champion when the Cowboys won the conference in 1975, 1977, & 1978.

When his career was over with Dallas, White finished second in franchise history in solo tackles (701) and third in combined tackles (1,104). He also played in 209 career games, which is third on the all-time list in Cowboys history.

The former Maryland star has also been inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1994) and the College Football Hall of Fame (2000).

It’s hard to imagine a player that made more of an impact at both the collegiate and professional level than White. He was one of the most talented defensive tackles in the history of the game and Maryland was fortunate enough to have him for four seasons. There were few Terps that had more natural talent than White.

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