Vols playmaker's nickname went from bullied to national spotlight

Marquarius Malik White wasn't a big fan of his nickname when he first got it.  The standout slot receiver for the Tennessee Volunteers was given it by his great grandmother when he was a very young kid, as the youngster moved simultaneously with a squirrel that was running through her garden. 

Now, the man known across the college football world as Squirrel White serves as the top passing option in Tennessee's offense.  And the way he darts through opposing secondaries, the name is quite apropos. 

White met with the media on Tuesday and explained that while most people call him Squirrel, he wasn't happy about it when he first got the nickname. 

"When I was real little, my great grandmother, she called me Squirrel.  When I was in school, I didn't really like the name squirrel because I feel like my classmates would just make fun of me and stuff, so I just wanted everyone to call me by my real name, which is Marquarius. Later on, I played sports.  I started playing football, and my teammates started calling me Squirrel.  I don't know how they realized my name was Squirrel.  I guess my family members must have said it around them or something like that.  And it just stuck then, so I just liked it." - Squirrel White via Tennessee Athletics

Being teased or bullied as a kid with nicknames is an experience that many of us can relate to.  However, the majority don't end up carrying said nicknames to adulthood.  Far fewer get the chance to play major college football.  As such, White's path from being picked on as a child for his nickname to having it be his namesake as a college football star is quite remarkable. 

White clearly doesn't seem to mind the name.  He's accepted the fact that most people call him Squirrel.  However, a few people still call him by his legal name, particularly those closest to him. 

"My mom, when I get in trouble, she'll call me Marquarius," White said.  "My girlfriend, she actually calls me by my middle name.  She doesn't really like (calling) me by my nickname."

White, who has an NIL deal with Weigel's to give away Coca-Cola for his touchdowns, has stepped up since Bru McCoy suffered a season-ending ankle injury against South Carolina.  White has topped 94 receiving yards and/or scored a touchdown in three of the Vols' last six games.  

Now, with the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs coming to town this weekend, the Vols will need White's biggest performance of the season if Tennessee is going to have a shot to pull off the upset. 

If White and the Vols can deliver, then he might be in line to earn another description in Knoxville after Saturday: Tennessee legend.