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Walled Lake Western's Cody White named 2016 Hungry Howie's Mr. Football

By STATE CHAMPS, 12/02/16, 10:30AM EST

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Congratulations Cody!!!!

State Champs! Sports Network and Hungry Howie’s announced on Thursday that Walled Lake Western senior Cody White has been named the recipient of the 2016 Hungry Howie’s Mr. Football Award.

Before winning the award, White was automatically entered into the Mr. Football Final Four by winning the online fan vote with over 8,500 votes.

“It’s a great feeling for me, just knowing that my community and my city’s got my back,” White said of winning the award and having the support of the Walled Lake Western community. “We went out there and we played and we brought this trophy back to our community. It’s a great feeling.”
 

White (3)


State Champs! Senior Editor and Analyst Tom Markowski said that White’s versatility was one of the many key factors that was taken into consideration for the Mr. Football Award.

“One of the most versatile athletes I’ve seen in the last 10 years,” he said. “When you have someone who can play at a high level at quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner, it adds so much to the team aspect of football, because football is a team game and Cody was a team player.”

As a senior, White played multiple positions, including quarterback and wide receiver on offense for the Warriors. In 2016, White was 31-68 passing for 638 yards and nine touchdowns while playing quarterback, and recorded 43 catches for 705 yards and nine touchdowns playing receiver, his natural position. White also rushed for 576 yards and seven touchdowns as well.
 

White with Family


White’s father, Sheldon White, who spent six years in the National Football League and was also an executive with the Detroit Lions organization, said that he was proud to see his son’s senior season end with the Mr. Football award.

“I’m so excited for him because I just know how much time and work he’s put in as a player,” he said. “It was just really exciting to see how he played this year. It was great to be able to watch every game and see everything.”

Western head coach Mike Zdebski said he was happy to see White’s hard work rewarded with the Mr. Football award and added he’s excited for the school and the football program as well.

“We’re proud for Cody for all of the work that he’s put in and for his family and all of the time they’ve put in,” he said. “It’s great for our school and our program, it puts us up there that having Mr. Football in your school – it’s the Heisman of high school football – and for him to win that award for our school and our community, the exposure and the positive-ness shines on our community and school, you can’t beat it.”

White, who is committed to continue his football career at Michigan State, helped lead Western to its first State Finals appearance since 1999 this past fall, where the Warriors fell to Detroit King.

“God’s just blessed me very much” he said. “It’s been a great journey for me so far and I’m going to keep it going next year at Michigan State. It’s going to be a great journey for me.”

State Champs! Network Executive Producer Lorne Plant said that this year’s Mr. Football Award contest was without a doubt the hardest decision that’s been made.

“This was by far the toughest decision we’ve had in the 12 years of the Mr. Football Award,” he said. “All four athletes involved in the contest could have won, but it ultimately came down to the fan vote and that’s what helped put Cody White over the top.”

Hungry Howie’s Marketing Coordinator Brian Beard said that he was pleased with the Mr. Football Award Contest and praised White as both an athlete and student.

“We’re absolutely pleased, it couldn’t have gone to a better kid,” he said. “Cody White is a great athlete, great student, seems that it couldn’t have gone to a better person. From Hungry Howie’s, we’re really happy to be partners with State Champs! and to award such a great kid with such a great award.”

For complete coverage of the Hungry Howie's Mr. Football Award Presentation, watch the STATE CHAMPS! HS Sports Show, Sunday morning at 9:00 am on Fox Sports Detroit!
 

White Zdebski

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Tag(s): News  Walled Lake Western  WLW JV  WLW Freshmen