James White is the ultimate role model.
He’s been the an instrumental piece in the New England Patriots’ culture over the past seven seasons and he’s earned respect from everyone surrounding him. Tom Brady couldn’t find enough good things to say about White during his time in New England.
That leadership and attitude resonated with Damien Harris, the Patriots’ second-year running back out of Alabama. Harris spent his rookie season learning the intricate details of being a professional in the NFL and he gained information from White over that span.
Harris elaborated on White’s role in his life while speaking with reporters on Thursday.
“I can’t even put into words how much you can learn from a guy like James White,” Harris said, transcribed by NESN’s Zack Cox. “First of all, being a professional, the way he takes care of his business, the way he comes to work every day with a mentality of being a leader and a go-to guy that we can depend on, and he never lets us down.
“I think that’s also a testament to the way that he leads, the way that he approaches the game and just the type of person that he is. He shows up to work every single day, does his job, does it well, rarely ever makes any mistakes and is just a guy you can (point) to and say, ‘That’s what this team is supposed to be about.’ His toughness, the way he approaches the game mentally, physically, the way he takes care of himself, keeps himself available and then goes out there and does his job.
“Just for short, I think having a guy like that to look up to has been helpful in my development as a player, and I really look up to him a lot. And he knows that. I tell him every day every chance I get. James White is definitely a guy you can say, ‘Yeah, I want to be like James White when I grow up.’”
It’s difficult to think of a better role model on and off the field.
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