Zamir White Bio
Zamir Alexza White, born on September 18, 1999, is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed “Zeus,” White played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he helped the program capture a College Football Playoff national championship in 2021. He was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft and has since developed into a key contributor in the team’s backfield rotation.
Early Life and Background
White grew up in Laurinburg, North Carolina, and attended Scotland High School, where he played both football and ran track. As a senior, he delivered one of the most productive high school seasons in the country, rushing for 2,086 yards on 14.1 yards per carry and scoring 34 touchdowns. His dominant senior campaign earned him the Sam B. Nicola Award as the national high school player of the year, though the season ended painfully when he tore his ACL in the second round of the state playoffs.
Despite the injury, White was rated a consensus top-five running back recruit in his class. He received scholarship offers from several powerhouse programs, including Alabama, Clemson, North Carolina, and Ohio State, before ultimately committing to play college football at the University of Georgia. His combination of size, speed, and vision made him one of the most sought-after prospects in the nation.
Path to American Football
White’s journey to the professional ranks was tested early by serious injury. He redshirted his true freshman season at Georgia after suffering a second torn ACL during summer training camp, raising questions about his long-term durability. He returned to the field in 2019 and scored his first college touchdown on September 7 against Murray State, finishing that redshirt freshman season with 408 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 78 carries.
As he continued to recover and refine his game, White became Georgia’s featured back during the shortened 2020 season, leading the Bulldogs with 779 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 144 carries. In 2021, he again led a deep Georgia running back room, rushing for 856 yards and 11 touchdowns on 160 carries while sharing snaps with James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, and Kendall Milton. Following the Bulldogs’ national championship run, White declared for the 2022 NFL draft on January 14, 2022.
Zamir White Career
Early Career (2022)
White was selected in the fourth round with the 122nd overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2022 NFL draft. He signed his rookie contract on June 8, 2022, and joined a backfield led by Josh Jacobs. As a rookie, White appeared in 14 games, serving primarily in a complementary role and finishing the season with 17 carries for 70 yards.
NFL Breakthrough (2023)
White’s opportunity arrived late in the 2023 season when starter Josh Jacobs was ruled out with an injury. He made his first career start in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers, rushing 17 times for 69 yards and scoring his first career touchdown. He followed that performance with a strong showing against the Kansas City Chiefs, carrying the ball 22 times for 145 yards in a 20–14 victory.
White closed out the 2023 regular season with another impressive outing in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos, gaining 112 yards on 25 carries in a 27–14 win. He appeared in all 17 games and made four starts, finishing the year with 104 carries for 451 yards and one touchdown, establishing himself as a reliable option in the Raiders’ offense.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2022–Present)
After his late-season surge, White entered the 2024 campaign with a larger role in the Raiders’ backfield. In Week 9, he recorded his first touchdown of the season in a 41–24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. However, his season was cut short in Week 11 when he suffered a quadriceps injury during a 34–19 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
White missed the following games against the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, and on December 10, the Raiders placed him on injured reserve, ending his 2024 season. Despite the injury setback, White remains a central part of the Raiders’ long-term plans at running back heading into the next phase of his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
White combines a thick, powerful frame at 6 feet tall and 216 pounds with the speed to break off long runs, reflecting the physical traits that earned him the “Zeus” nickname. He excels at finishing runs between the tackles and has shown the burst to break big gains on the perimeter. His development in pass protection and receiving ability has been a focal point as he grows into a more complete back at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of White’s young career came during the 2021 college season, when he helped lead Georgia to a College Football Playoff national championship. His first NFL start in Week 15 of 2023 and his 145-yard performance against the Chiefs shortly after stand as the most memorable early milestones of his professional tenure.
Zamir White Career Wins
While individual rushing titles and major awards have not yet defined White’s resume, he has accumulated meaningful on-field achievements across the high school, college, and professional levels. His workhorse performances in high school and at Georgia established him as one of the most productive backs in recent Bulldogs history, and his late-2023 surge with the Raiders signaled his arrival as a featured NFL running back.
NFL Highlights
White’s first NFL touchdown came in Week 15 of the 2023 season against the Los Angeles Chargers, marking the moment he officially reached the end zone at the professional level. He followed it with a 145-yard effort against Kansas City and a 112-yard game against Denver to close the year, all strong indicators of his upside as a lead back.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, White’s senior season rushing total of 2,086 yards and 34 touchdowns, paired with the Sam B. Nicola Award, stands as one of the most decorated campaigns of any prep running back in recent memory. At Georgia, his 2020 and 2021 seasons saw him lead the team in rushing both years, and he capped his college career as a national champion.
Zamir White Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about White’s parents and immediate family members is limited. What is well documented is his hometown roots in Laurinburg, North Carolina, where he built the foundation for his football career and earned statewide recognition as a high school standout.
Personal Life
White is known by the nickname “Zeus,” a moniker that has followed him from his high school and college days into the NFL. Details about his marital status, spouse, and children have not been publicly confirmed, and he tends to keep his personal life out of the spotlight while focusing on his football career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, White is expected to compete for a significant role in the Las Vegas Raiders’ backfield as he continues to recover from the quadriceps injury that ended his 2024 campaign. The Raiders’ offseason decisions regarding their running back room will be a key storyline to watch, with White’s blend of power and speed making him a strong candidate for early-down work and goal-line situations.
His 2023 performance, when he averaged more than four yards per carry across his four starts and closed the year with three consecutive strong showings, provides a clear blueprint for the kind of production he is capable of delivering when healthy. If he returns to form, White could quickly reestablish himself as one of the most physically imposing backs in the AFC West.
Ultimately, the 2025 season represents a pivotal year in White’s career, offering him the chance to put injury concerns behind him and cement his status as a long-term building block for the Raiders. His track record of overcoming major injuries, including two torn ACLs earlier in his career, suggests that resilience will continue to define his approach as he works toward a full comeback.