DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
An explosive two-way player, Josh White made several pivotal plays in two recent home wins for the Islanders.
Never losing sight JOSH White lost sight in one eye as a youngster, but he has never lost sight of his goal to go as far as he can in football.
Islanders running back Josh
White has not given up on his
goal of playing in the NFLBy Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comThis is a pivotal point in White's gridiron career. The last two summers, he played in all of the San Francisco 49ers' preseason games and made it as far as the final cut.
Right now, he's a fullback/linebacker for the Hawaiian Islanders, and it remains to be seen if he'll get an NFL tryout when training camps open later this month.
The Islanders (3-11) have won two of their last four games after a nine-game losing streak and White is a major reason behind the new-found success.
White and the Islanders play their final home game of the season Saturday at 7 p.m. at Blaisdell Arena against defending league champion Quad City (9-5).
"Josh White is playing in a league above," Islanders coach Chad Carlson said. "He's been at the big show and he wants to get back there, so he's playing like it ... and his experience is definitely showing."
Against San Diego last month, White gave the Islanders an early boost, slamming up the middle for a 21-yard touchdown, dragging a defender on his back the final 8 yards.
That play was the highlight of White's season so far, but it served a higher purpose. It showed his teammates what extra effort can do, and they immediately took the cue and went on to beat the Riptide to end the long losing streak.
"There was great blocking by the line and it was open for the first 2 or 3 yards, and I was saying to myself, 'Make the best of it. I don't touch the ball that often, be determined and keep my legs pumping.' "
Carlson thinks White not getting the ball much (arenafootball2 is mostly a passing game) makes him more of a threat.
"He's a guy you have to tie up just to keep him away from the ball," Carlson said, half-jokingly. "He wants the ball so bad, but we've gotta keep him patient until the time is right to unleash him."
White also led the charge in a victory three weeks ago against Bakersfield. Aside from rushing for 41 yards on just five carries, he stalled a Bakersfield drive with a first-half sack, picked up a key first down in a game-clinching drive and caused a fumble on the last play of the game, leading to another touchdown.
"We learned from that losing streak," White said. "We've been outhitting people all year, always making sure they knew they were going to get hit, but we were also killing ourselves, giving teams second chances on third down and turning the ball over."
White, the 6-foot-2, 265-pound former Farrington High School standout, will never forget his first preseason game in the NFL against Oakland.
"It was a great experience, just to be involved in that type of atmosphere," White said. "I had a couple of good blocks in that game."
During his short time in the NFL, White learned to try to be a perfectionist in practices and games and he got to meet some big-name players.
"I met Jerry Rice and Jeff Garcia and they're cool guys" he said. "I also met (former University of Hawaii linebacker) Jeff Ulbrich and became good friends with him."
White's biggest college highlight at California was a 63-yard run against UCLA in a shutout victory.
He also vividly remembers his high-school days when he made first team all-state and the Governors played in the OIA championship game against Kahuku.
White can't see out of his left eye, but that hasn't slowed him a bit. As a child, he fell and the eye was damaged on the sharp edge of a toy truck.
"No, it motivates me," he said. "It keeps me pushing and working out in the offseason. Keep pushing, keep practicing."
White isn't letting that long losing streak into the forefront of his mind.
"Let's go (2-0) and end the season strong," he said.
Iron man: The Hawaiian Islanders may be short on team accomplishments in their first season, but they have earned their share of individual awards.
Nian Taylor was the latest Islander honored by arenafootball2, winning the league's Iron Man of the Week for his performance in the Islanders' 83-73 loss to Arkansas last week.
The award is given to the most complete player each week.
Taylor put together 347 all-purpose yards -- the eighth-best performance in the history of the league -- and scored three touchdowns on offense and one on defense. He also returned nine kicks for 187 yards. Taylor was the league's Ford Tough Player of the Week just two weeks ago.
