Lamar White Working to Make His Own Name at UAB

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - April 17, 2026

His father is the best wide receiver in UAB football history. Lamar White is proud of that fact. But his mission is clear.

“I think he’s trying to carve his own path,” said UAB wide receiver coach Kevin Garver.

The path that Roddy White carved was impressive. He was an integral part of UAB’s first bowl team, caught 163 career passes, which at the time was the second most in program history, and became the school’s second highest NFL draft choice after being selected with the 27th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2005. He went on to become the Falcons all-time leader in career receptions (808), career receiving touchdowns (63) and career games played by a wide receiver (171).

Lamar is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound redshirt sophomore, who came to UAB as a walk-on and played in two games his first two seasons in the program. Lamar has shown strong signs this spring that he’s ready to find a spot in the playing rotation, partly because of the versatility that he’s embraced.

“It's a little bit easier just to learn one position and kind of micro focus into that,” Garver said. “But in the end, it kind of handcuffs them. When you're able to learn it as a whole, as we want them to, and you're able just to plug in to whatever happens (with) ‘I'm in and I know what to do’. He's taken on that challenge and I feel like he's hit the ground and he's just running with it. I think that opens up a lot more opportunities for him too. And the consistency of that too, right? I mean, there's a learning curve and when you take that on, sometimes you're a little bit slower to react. But I don't see that with him now. He's had every opportunity to play all the positions. Obviously, there's still a lot of things that he wants to grow in, but I have been pleased with his results.”

White caught 63 passes, compiled 944 all-purposes yards and scored seven touchdowns as a senior at Peachtree Ridge High in Suwanee, Ga. He chose to follow in his father’s college footsteps after he left high school.

“Yeah, I mean, a little bit,” White said when asked if there was pressure in following his father’s path. “But at the same time, I'm still trying to help myself, do better for myself, make a name for myself, too.”

Garver, who has been White’s position coach throughout his time at UAB, said Lamar has handled that pressure well.

“I don’t see a problem, truthfully,” Garver said. “It hasn’t been a thing. Then, you know, I think his dad, too, has been awesome,” Garver said. “Fortunate that he's around. I've had an opportunity to have multiple conversations with him. I think that he's really supported us, really supported me. He also coached him in high school. And so having those opportunities, just him and I and talking about those things. His dad was hard on him and held him to a certain standard. And that's my approach with him too. It helps dad's on board too and sees it the same way. He appreciates his dad, obviously, and the knowledge that his dad's able to give to him to play at the highest level.”

Lamar said he’s always played receiver and his earliest lessons came from his father. He also had the experience of watching his father play in the NFL.

“I learned a lot, man,” White said. “He’s got a lot of knowledge through the game. Learning every coverage, knowing that he's been in the league for so long, it's just a lot I could learn from him. I feel like that took my game to the next level. I was young (when Roddy was playing). I still remember some of it. I was probably like five. I remember, loud stadium moments, highlights here and there, my dad making plays with Julio (Jones). It was great times, great experience.”

Most important now, though, is his own progression. The competition at receiver has been wide open this spring, especially with a few players sitting out at least part of the month of practice, including projected starter Kaleb Brown, because of injuries. White has been one of the wide receiver room’s most consistent players.

“Yeah, so I've been fortunate to be with him this whole time here because when I joined the staff, it was actually his first semester,” Garver said. “I've been able to see the progression, which has been awesome to see, from his freshman year to where he's at now. He's grown in a lot of areas, truthfully, on and off the field, really learning what it means to be a young man and take care of his business. So I've been pleased with how he's handled those things. But I think also just the confidence that he's playing with, understanding his body from when he got here to now and how that has transformed through Coach Lyle (Henley) and the strength staff. I think just overall the consistency, like consistency of knowing the plays and the lining up, but also making the plays. I think that he's done a great job in contested catch situations. I think he's improving as a route runner, getting more confidence to that and understanding how to attack technique, how to move defenders, create the grass. I think that's showing up.”