Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Siblings from Henderson find ’Nova connection
Henderson’s White brothers share 31-year connection with ’Nova’s Talley
It’s not unusual for sons to follow in their father’s footsteps, especially when it comes to picking a college. It happens all the time.
All-time rosters are filled with father-son combinations. So when it came time for West Chester Henderson’s T.J. and Bryan White to reach college decisions, their respective choices were pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Their dad, Ted, was a defensive lineman on Andy Talley’s first team in 1985 after transferring from Virginia Tech in the spring of that year. He played three seasons for the Wildcats and served as a team captain in 1987.
“We grew up in a Villanova family,” T.J. said. “We were here all the time for games when we were growing up. We dreamt of being Villanova Wildcats, so it was an easy decision for us once the offer was given.”
The scholarship offers were extended and immediately accepted and, over time, the brothers have become fixtures on one of the best defensive units in the FCS. Bryan White, a 6-1, 280-pound sophomore, is a starter at nose tackle for the 8-3 Wildcats. T.J., a 6-1, 225-pound redshirt senior, is a backup linebacker.
Both have played in all 11 games. Bryan White, 20, has been involved in 28 tackles, including four for loss. T.J. White, 23, has mustered 18 tackles and one pass breakup. That they get to play together as part of Talley’s last team at Villanova, when their father was on Talley’s first squad, is special for them and Talley.
“Isn’t that something?” Talley said.
Because of their age difference, the brothers only played together for one season at Henderson, when T.J. was a senior and Bryan was a freshman. Yet the duo led the Warriors to an 8-3 record and the Ches-Mont League National Division title with a perfect 6-0 mark.
“We’ve spent the last two years together here, so it’s been pretty special,” T.J. said. “Not many brothers get to play Division I football together.”
Villanova actually has two sets of siblings on the roster. Drew Wiley is a 6-1, 230-pound redshirt freshman who is a backup at outside linebacker. His younger brother Jeff is a freshman defensive lineman. Like the White brothers the Wiley brothers have played in all 11 games for the Wildcats.
T.J. and Bryan White, as well as Drew and Jeff Wiley, will enjoy another experience together when the ninth-ranked and ninthseeded Wildcats host 24thseeded Saint Francis (7-4) in the opening round of the FCS playoffs Saturday (2 p.m. start) at Villanova Stadium.
It will be T.J.’s second trip to the postseason as a college player and the first for Bryan.
“Playoffs are hard to come by and to have your brother by your side is really special,” T.J. said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
They are excited about the opportunity for several reasons. The last time they were in a playoff game together, Henderson dropped a 28-17 decision to Downingtown East in the opening round of the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs in 2011.
Also, win or lose, this will be the last home game of Talley’s career. If the Wildcats win, they’ll be at eighthseeded South Dakota State next week. And if Villanova can knock off the Jackrabbits, the Wildcats will most likely get top-seeded and five-time defending national champion North Dakota State in the Fargo Dome in the quarterfinals.
“All we wanted was one more home game,” Bryan said. “We didn’t win our last home game (a 20-7 loss to James Madison), so we definitely want to win this one.”
The JMU loss still bothers the Wildcats. Villanova had a chance to clinch a share of the Colonial Athletic Association title and a bye in the first round of the playoffs, but had to settle for a second-place tie with New Hampshire instead.
“It just makes our road a little tougher,” T.J. said, “but we’re up to the challenge.”