LARAMIE -- Isaac White claimed he was fine.

The gray plastic walking boot on his left foot said otherwise.

Wyoming's senior safety has officially been ruled out for this Saturday's meeting with San Diego State. Jay Sawvel, a week prior, feared that would indeed be the scenario. White received an MRI. The results obviously weren't favorable for what he nonchalantly referred to as a "foot, ankle thing."

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White was on the field for 894 snaps last fall. That's all of them, according to his head coach. The 2024 season opener was his 40th straight appearance and 30th consecutive start.

"It's been hard, for sure," the Pottstown, Pa., product admitted. "Like, the first three years I've been here, I didn't miss a single game. So, it's been different, trying to adjust to getting through practice and being hurt. I'm just trying to play through it."

Some things you simply can't just overcome.

With 14:44 remaining in regulation, Arizona State's back-up quarterback Jeff Sims reined in the shotgun snap, faked his drop back and darted through the middle of Wyoming's depleted defensive front. Linebacker Connor Shay, along with White, caught up with him 12 yards down the field.

That's when the lights went out for White, who initially thought that play happened in the third quarter. He said it was "friendly fire" that led to that concussion in the desert, the first known head injury of his college career.

"That was my first time getting knocked out," the 22-year-old said. "(Trainers) came out and got me. I was knocked out for a couple minutes ... It was a weird experience, for sure. You wake up and there's just trainers all around you. You didn't really know what was going on."

White spent the week leading up to the Idaho game in protocol. He said that consisted of physical activities. If dizziness or headaches followed, the clock restarted.

The 6-foot-1, 201-pound defensive back didn't "check all the boxes."

Adversity like this, though, is new territory.

Still, White returned the following week and tallied double-digit tackles in a home loss to BYU. He added a pass breakup that night in front of a capacity crowd inside War Memorial Stadium.

 

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The injury bug again bit the following Saturday in muggy Denton.

That's the night the "bill came due" on the Cowboys' secondary depth, Sawvel said following a 44-17 setback that saw North Texas roll up 534 yards of total offense, including 216 on the ground.

Free safety Wyett Ekeler was already missing from the lineup after breaking both thumbs against the Cougars. Wrook Brown, the team's starting nickelback, also missed the first half, serving a suspension for a targeting penalty. White suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury midway through the third quarter.

Mean Green signal caller Chandler Morris took full advantage of those absences, connecting on 28-of-41 throws for 305 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Despite being listed as "doubtful" against Front Range foe Air Force, White played. He registered three tackles over the first two quarters before his night came to an end. Wyoming's defense limited the Falcons' triple-option attack to just 205 rushing yards on 46 attempts. More importantly, the backend, led by relative unknowns like Andrew Johnson and Malique Singleton, held up without White and Co.

That unit, as a whole, allowed just six points in the second half of the team's first victory of the season.

There was a proud veteran on the home sideline.

"Throughout the week they prepare like they're going to start the game," White said of that youthful secondary. "So, it's really encouraging for me to see them step into those roles and just play hard, just play the best they can. It's been really positive and really cool to see."

White, who has 30 tackles through parts of four outings, will be missed.

Sawvel, who before becoming the head man served as Wyoming's defensive coordinator and safeties coach the previous four seasons, didn't mince words: White is the best, most-consistent defender in this program.

"I mean, look, Isaac White does the same thing every day," Sawvel said. "I love coaching Isaac White. I've loved coaching Isaac White from the time that I got here. He always plays a disciplined style of football. He is never out of an alignment and doesn't miss an assignment. He doesn't have any of those issues that way, nothing. So, because of that, you always know the performance and what you can expect from Isaac White."

What can Wyoming's secondary expect this Saturday, facing rookie signal caller Danny O'Neil and the visiting Aztecs?

That remains to be seen.

Just know No. 42 is not thrilled to be a spectator.

"I'm going to do as much as I can to get this ankle right," White said. "So, whether that's moving around, physical exercise, just anything I can do to get healthy and get ready to go. If there's any chance that I can play, I'm going to play, no matter how I'm feeling. I just want to be able to do anything I can to help out the team. So, that's what I'm trying to do."

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

During the summer of 2021, 7220Sports.com counted down the Top 50 football players in University of Wyoming history, presented by Premier Bone & Joint Centers, Worthy of Wyoming.

The rules are simple: What was the player's impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn't a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220's Cody Tucker are Robert GagliardiJared NewlandRyan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS -- only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don't agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports - #Top50UWFB

Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players