clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2011 NFL Draft Results: Bills Select RB Johnny White

With the No. 133 overall pick (fifth round) in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected North Carolina running back Johnny White.

Bills GM Buddy Nix said earlier this week that the team would like to add a third running back, and they've done so in adding White, a back that generated a good amount of pre-draft buzz. White is a 5'10", 209-pound back that didn't really do much until his senior season as a Tar Heel, when he racked up 720 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 130 carries. He had good reason: he started his career as a cornerback, and switched positions a lot.

White, like the rest of his draft classmates in Buffalo, is a tough, hard-nosed kid, and that shows up in his running style. He runs very hard - so much so that he's dealt with injuries, including a broken clavicle. He's not a big speed guy, but he's tough between the tackles and also is a pretty talented receiver.

It's possible that the Bills view him as a potential long-term replacement to Fred Jackson, who turned 30 years old in February. In the short term, however, White does have value on special teams, where he was one of the best gunners in this draft class.