Prior to the 2015 season, the future looked bright for the Chicago Bears. They still had Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte, and had also just drafted running back Jeremy Langford in the third round. Receiver Alshon Jeffery was expected to be the heir to Brandon Marshall‘s throne as Jay Cutler‘s top target, and the Bears defense was expected to be much improved from 2014.
Unfortunately for Chicago, the team was decimated by injuries, and finished with a 6-10 record. One of the biggest injuries the Bears had to deal with was a stress fracture suffered by first round pick Kevin White. The injury forced the talented receiver to miss all of the 2015 season.
However, as long as these injuries don’t linger into 2016, things are looking up for Chicago. With an even better defense that features newly drafted linebacker Leonard Floyd, 2016 could be the year where the Bears jump back into the playoff race and become legitimate contenders. The Bears truly becoming a threat in the NFC North, and to make the playoffs, is contingent on the play of their offense, and one player who deserves attention this season is receiver Kevin White.
Expectations for Kevin White in 2016
Kevin White was a star during his college days at West Virginia His insane athletic abilities, which helped him complete phenomenal numbers, led to him being drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. White’s athleticism was certainly showcased at the NFL Combine, as his 40 yard dash was clocked at 4.35 seconds and he had a 36 1/2 inch vertical leap. These numbers had many believing he could be the first receiver off of the board, and that his athleticism made him an essential lock for being a top-10 pick.
When Chicago selected him seventh overall, many believed that he and Alshon Jeffery would form the next great wide receiver duo in the NFL. While that was prevented from occurring in 2015 due to injuries to both players, the two could very well be a phenomenal duo for years to come. Jeffery is a big, strong receiver that can go up and catch 50/50 balls and dominate corners physically. White’s athleticism could make him one of the hardest receivers to cover since he is able to exploit man-to-man coverage to his advantage. This contrast of skill sets between the two receivers could prove to be impossible to defend, and opponents may struggle mightily to stop the Bears offense.
The Injury Risk
Luckily for Chicago, the only major injury White has suffered was the shin injury last season. Other than that, the talented wideout has never suffered any major injury.
Along with that, the former West Virginia receiver appears to be coming along well in his recovery, and he appears to be on track to return to organized activities 100% healthy.
What to Expect
While it would be unreasonable to expect White to fly out of the gates and be a Pro Bowler in 2016, it would not be ridiculous to say that isn’t a possibility. Given the work ethic and athleticism of White, he is certainly capable of putting up phenomenal numbers in 2016.
The rest of the NFL must be kept on watch for the return of Kevin White in 2016.
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