Lessons learned by White, Dorsett as high-school teammates in Florida paying off with Patriots

FOXBOROUGH — When the story of the 2018 Patriots is written, there will be a chapter on the Georgia guys like David Andrews and Sony Michel. There’s going to be a lot about the Rutgers defensive backs.

And there has to be something about the duo from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which helped provide an offensive boost for a team that needed a spark during many of the most important moments of the regular season.

Roughly a decade ago, running back James White and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett were high school teammates under the legendary George Smith at Aquinas, and prior to their individual success at the college level (and in Foxborough), both played a role in the wild success as part of Smith’s program: White was a centerpiece of Smith’s national championship team in 2008, and followed that up with one of the best seasons for any high schooler in the state of Florida the year after that.

And in 2010, Dorsett had 806 yards receiving 12 touchdowns a year later for an undefeated team that ended up winning Florida’s 5A football championship.

Dorsett told BostonSportsJournal.com that if there was one coach who could really prepare him for life under Bill Belichick, it was Smith.



“Coach Smith has a lot of the same traits as Bill, and it got me prepared for when I came here,” he said. “I could see them … he’s the high school equivalent of Bill. Well-respected, disciplinarian, lots of championships. He’s that guy for high school football in Florida. That’s how people look at him.

“I’m grateful I got the chance to play for him, because his last year as a coach was my last year in high school. And I cried when he said he was going to retire. He gave me an opportunity, a chance to come in and be able to play for him.”

Of course, it’s entirely possible Smith’s familiarity with the Belichick family helped shape his coaching style, at least in some small way. He became close with Steve Belichick when the father was at Navy, and professed to study his coaching style and philosophy. He also recalled a chance meeting with Bill in the 1970s.

“Steve came in here a few times to recruit our kids in the 1970s, and we ended up becoming friends,” Smith told BSJ. “A couple of years in, he came down to see me one afternoon, and he had this kid with him. ‘Hey Smitty, I want you to meet my son.’ And it was Bill. Great kid.”