After OU football's Pro Day, NFL Draft hopeful DaShaun White aims to 'control what I can control'

NORMAN — DaShaun White was never the nervous type during his five-year OU career.

But as the veteran linebacker prepared to run the 40-yard dash during the opening portion of the Sooners' NFL Pro Day on Thursday, he was shaking.

"I came out pretty nervous," White said. "That caught me off guard."

In White's defense, he had about as much on the line as any of the 16 OU players who participated on Thursday.

Despite recording a career-high 90 tackles (six tackles for loss) and two interceptions last season en route to an All-Big 12 honorable mention, White didn't receive an invitation to participate in the NFL Combine.

This made OU's Pro Day even more significant for White, who had one last shot to prove his value in front of scouts for all 32 NFL teams.

More: Why OU football's Pro Day 'feels surreal' for cornerback C.J. Coldon

"I still feel some kind of way about it," White said of the NFL Combine snub. "I don’t know if that feeling will ever go away. I had to come back to myself and get rid of the sort of entitlement and take it for what it was.

"You can’t control everything, and I was just trying to control what I can."

But after completing his first of two 40-yard dash attempts, White now needed to control his nerves.

Thankfully, his former OU teammates helped him out. The first person to be in White's ear was senior defensive back Key Lawrence, who told him to "just chill."

White then got some more words of encouragement from players such as Woodi Washington, C.J. Coldon and Chris Murray.

"I'm happy my teammates were around me to cool me off and settle in," White said.

White ultimately posted a 4.66 on his second 40-yard dash attempt. He also recorded a 33.5-inch vertical and did 12 225-pound bench reps.

It was a solid outing for White, who had been waiting to show what he can do since missing out on the NFL Combine.

"I’m happy to get today behind me," White said. "I’ve been waiting for it forever and forever."

More: Now OU football's lead running back, Jovantae Barnes is 'more locked in'

White could hear his name get called in one of the late rounds of the NFL Draft, which will unfold April 27-29.

Some projections have White going undrafted, though. And while he'd likely be able to join a practice squad at the very least, he has another option.

White was drafted by the Michigan Panthers in the fifth round (No. 32 overall) of the USFL Draft on Feb. 21. It came as a surprise to White, who didn't even know he was in the pool of available players.

"I had gotten out of the shower and got a call about, 'Congratulations, you’ve been drafted,'" White said. "I was like, 'The (NFL) Draft isn’t for another two months. What are you talking about?'

"It’s nice to be able to chase this and put all my marbles into this. I also have something I can fall back and lean back on. I’m grateful."

Playing in the NFL remains the goal for White, who hopes his performance on Thursday caught the eye of at least one team scout.

"I feel like today was my opportunity to showcase what I wanted to show," White said. "That’s been the message to myself. Control what I can control."

More: OU football: Key Lawrence making a 'huge jump' at safety for Sooners

What is the OU football 'W' drill?

In an effort to reinforce physicality, the OU football team does what's called the "W" drill during its practices.

The drill consists of three players on each side of the ball. A running back takes a handoff and attempts to find a hole while his fellow offensive players block for him.

Junior running back Tawee Walker took a handoff during the W drill on Monday, and he quickly got shoved out of bounds. A whistle then sounded, signaling the end of the play.

But it wasn't over for Drake Stoops and Billy Bowman, who kept going at it before wrestling each other to the ground.

It then took a handful of players and members of OU's staff to break Stoops and Bowman up. But after dusting themselves off, the two teammates got up and returned to the drill as if nothing happened.

"That happens in practice," Stoops said. "Billy’s my guy. He’s an amazing player and is an ultimate competitor, as am I. Sometimes things just get heated, but that’s just two guys going at it.

"Just knowing that at the end of the day, you care for all your brothers out here."

Stoops and Bowman aren't the only two OU players who've mixed it up during the W drill.

The drill is designed to bring out the aggressive side of players. And while that aggression sometimes extends beyond the whistle, it doesn't extend beyond the football field.

"We needed that because last year we weren’t as physical as we are now," sophomore defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings said of the drill. "You know you are going against your brother every play. You are going to talk stuff to each other, but you know it’s all love in the end."

More: Injuries marred Sam Bradford's NFL career, but he 'wouldn't change anything about it'

Peyton Bowen suffers tragic loss in family

The OU football team has Peyton Bowen on its mind.

The freshman defensive back missed practice on Monday as he mourns the loss of his sister, Camylle Bowen-Ables, who died Saturday after giving birth to her daughter.

There's no timetable for Bowen's return, but OU's players are ready to welcome him back whenever that time comes.

"I know I have to be there for him at all times," said freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold, who played with Bowen at Denton Guyer High School in Texas. "It’s an extreme tragedy and loss for the family. Me as a person, I have to love my boy, and I have to be there for him."

A GoFundMe has been created to go towards funeral costs and future needs for Bowen-Ables' daughter, Josephine.

The fundraiser has a goal of $100,000. In its first two days, it has received nearly $75,000.

More: How OU football became 'a close team' this offseason after a health scare, tornado

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: DaShaun White snubbed in scouting combine, eyes NFL Draft