JACKSON — Millsaps College is making a run through the NCAA Division III football playoffs, and one former Trinity Episcopal linebacker is helping lead the charge.

Senior mic linebacker Cap White is second on the team in tackles with 73 total, averaging 6.64 per game for the Majors.

He has one solo and four assisted tackles for a loss of 5 total yards, has two interceptions for 19 yards — tied for 25th in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference — a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.

“He makes all our strength and adjustment calls,” said Millsaps coach Mike DuBose. “He’s the quarterback on the field as far as the defense is concerned. He’s in charge of making sure the other guys are lined up and in the right position. We’re a multiple-defense football team, and he’s done an outstanding job in that.”

Beyond being a strong player on the field, DuBose said White is also a good teammate off it.

DuBose said even when White was seeing backup playing time as a sophomore and junior, he was a leader on the team.

“He’s a very positive, upbeat, focused young man,” he said. “I don’t think there is anyone more well liked on the football team than Cap White.”

David King, White’s former coach at Trinity, agreed.

White led the Saints in tackles with 139 his senior year, recording 12 sacks as the team Most Valuable Player and defensive captain, and King said even when he wasn’t credited with a tackle, he was always near the ball.

He was also first team all-district and all-state.

“He’s one of my all-time favorite players to coach,” King said. “He got the most out of his ability. He was extremely intelligent and extremely tough.”

DuBose said White is one of the most improved players from last season, when he played in nine games and recorded 11 total tackles.

DuBose said White lost weight and improved his quickness and agility over the summer, developing into a complete linebacker.

“He was always good on the run defense,” DuBose said. “Now he’s good against the run, and he’s very good against the pass as well. That’s a compliment to him and to his desire and work ethic.”

White said he worked at a sports performance center in Jackson over the summer with some teammates to get ready for the leadership role.

He also studied one-one-one with his coaches to learn the ins and outs of the defense.

“I’ve played ever year, and even as a backup you get to play — you’re still in the system although you don’t quite learn as much,” White said. “It’s the same position I played in high school.

“It’s kind of hard being in the leadership position, because you get a lot more criticism than you do credit.”

White was also named to the Alll-SCAC Academic team the past two seasons, something his mom Wendy White said is a huge honor.

She said she is proud of him not only because of his accomplishments on the field but also in the classroom.

“The big thing is going to class,” White said. “When it’s football time, I do football — that’s all I focus on. And when I have time off I go and get my schoolwork done so I can keep up.”

The 11-0 Majors defeated LaGrange College 51-26 last weekend and will take on Washington and Jefferson College (10-1) Saturday at Harper Davis Field in Jackson.

White’s family, along with his former coach, will be in attendance.

“I find it very exciting,” Wendy White said. “The parents at Millsaps are a whole lot of fun. They cheer and yell and they all have noisemakers. (White’s 10-year-old sister) Grace Anne and I have painted signs and put them in front of the house, and she makes shakers to give to all our friends.”

Presidents’ quarterback Bobby Swallow is 12th in the nation and first in the Presidents Conference in total offense with 303.09 yards and ninth in the country in pass efficiency.

Running back Curt Jones leads the conference with 108 yards per game, while receiver David Ravida is 19th in the country with 7.09 receptions per game.

“Washington and Jefferson is probably in the top 5 percent of Division III football programs as far as winning percentage,” DuBose said. “This is their 40th playoff game, while we’re still counting on one hand, so this is an outstanding program that we’re getting ready to play.”

White said the defense will have to focus on Swallow, trying to shut down his pass patterns and force some breakups and turnovers.

He said Saturday’s game is what he’s been looking forward to since he came to Millsaps.

“It’s fun going and getting that championship,” he said. “That’s what you go through two-a-days for and what you work all summer for. It’s kind of what we’ve been working for since my sophomore year, since we actually started winning, and we’re finally getting a chance to achieve our goal.”