EAST LANSING - The Blair Witch Project didn't work out so well for all involved in that 1990s movie concept, but the Blair White Project is becoming an inspirational success story for the Michigan State football team.

A walk-on, who said he never considered going any place else but Michigan State, especially after growing up with a mother, Vicki LeFevre White, who was an All-American swimmer for the Spartans, "Whitey", as he is affectionately known by his teammates, has become a solid third option and possession receiver for the Spartans.

As a matter of fact, White is just trying to continue a family lineage that has found success in MSU athletics in the past.

White's mother swam for MSU from 1976-79 and earned All-America honors in 1979 while serving as team captain. His cousin Jessica LeFevre was a four-year starter on the Spartan softball team from 2004-08 and earned third team All-Big Ten recognition.

While White has a ways to go to match the success of his family members, he is fast becoming a reliable option for senior quarterback Brian Hoyer.

Through six games, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior has caught 10 passes for 125 yards. He's the team's third-leading receiver, averaging 20.8 yards a game. (Note, following the Michigan game, White now ranks second on the team with 22 catches).

In MSU's win over Iowa, he matched his career-high in catches with three but established a career high yards gained with 38. His previous high was 27, two games ago in MSU's win at Indiana.

As a result, he has had at least one catch in all but one game this season.

"I just like to get in there and help the team out. A couple of catches here and there,'' said White, a human biology major who earned a scholarship this season. "I'm just trying to help out team win.''

And while Spartan fans may be more comfortable and used to names like Mark Dell, Deon Curry, B.J. Cunningham, Keyshawn Martin and Fred Smith, Hoyer knows that White is the type of unselfish, blue-collar receiver every team needs to have a successful season.

"Whitey is great,'' Hoyer said. "He comes in works hard and you can tell that he's done everything possible to take advantage of this opportunity. As far as our offense goes, he very underrated because he does the little things you need in a game.''

Words like that indicate that the former Saginaw Nouvel Catholic standout, who turned down offers from MAC schools to take his chances at MSU, is doing more than enough to keep himself as an integral part of the Spartans' offense.

THE BLAIR WHITE FILE

6-2, 200

Wide Receiver

Saginaw Nouvel Catholic

THE LATESTWhite had a game-high 143 yards receiving during Michigan State's 35-21 victory over Michigan on Saturday ... White ranks second on the team with 23 catches, just four behind Mark Dell.

EARLY WORDIn March of 2007, just months after the hiring of Mark Dantonio, SpartanMag.com publisher Jim Comparoni posted on The Underground Bunker message board that sources had indicated that a walk-on WR named Blair White had been impressive in winter workouts, impressive enough to become a contributor some day. Eventually, that source - former Spartan WR and aspiring coach Herb Haygood - proved to be prophetic.

This after being redshirted as a freshman, only to return the following season to earn a spot on special teams where he played in four games as a redshirt freshman. In his sophomore season, the academic All-Big Ten selection continued his rise by seeing action primarily on special teams but he was beginning to polish his skills as a receiver.

White finished last year seeing action in 10 games, while catching three balls for 25 yards in a win over Alabama-Birmingham.

This year, through hard work and determination, he has moved into a regular role in the offense.

And he has done it despite undergoing corrective back surgery.

"I had a little back issue a couple of years ago and I had surgery but for the most part, it's not been bothering me, so that's that,'' he said. "I had a herniated disc and I had surgery to get that in order.''

He showed no signs of back trouble when he threw a perfect rolling cut block on an Indiana defensive back to help spring Cunningham for a 29-yard gain on a perfectly-executed bubble screen.

How much does Hoyer trust White? After White dropped a pass that would have been good for first-down yardage on third-and-18 at Indiana, Hoyer showed no hesitation in going back to White later in the game on a crucial third-and-7. White made a difficult, tip-toe catch along the sideline on a wheel route for a gain of 27.

"I might have had a little chip on my shoulder with that drop because I like to be known as the guy who's going to catch all of the balls,'' White said. "I might not be the fastest but I'm going to control the things that I can control and when I drop balls that gets to me a little bit.''

White worked his way up from meager scout team beginnings to special teams participation last year, after being a two-year starter on the prep level. At Saginaw Nouvel Catholic, he earned honorable mention All-State honors as a senior, pulling in 63 receptions for 800 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He also starred in basketball and baseball. As a baseball player for Novel Catholic, he played first base and pitched, eventually earning second team All-State honors. On the basketball court, he wasn't shabby either, averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds.

At MSU, he has not only become an inspiration and earned the reputation as a hard worker but apparently he is pretty tough too.

A bloodied gash across the bridge of his nose, one he received courtesy of the Hawkeyes' physical secondary during MSU's hard-fought 16-13 win over Iowa, is worn like a badge of honor, proving that he's doing a little more than just trying to get open on passing plays.

"That hurt a little bit but I'll play through it,'' he said. "It was good to just come out and play tough with them and get a win."

White's solid play this season has been needed, given the nagging upper body injuries that continue to sideline senior Deon Curry, a 2007 starter.

While White's opportunity came in part as a result of Curry's injury, it doesn't mean he hasn't earned the right to keep that spot.

White will have one more season after this one to match his female family members, who both capped their careers with All-Big Ten recognition. While he's the first to admit that his athletic talents may not match some of his teammates, don't bet against him forging some sort of honors and memories, in part because of his work ethic and appreciation of the opportunity he's been given.

"It's tougher when you're a walk-on because you have to work for what you get," he said. "It's not all given to you and you appreciate it more.''

So far, that appreciation has been a bonus for the Spartans' offense.