JACKSON — Former Cathedral School standout J.E.B. White was honored when he heard recent news from a teammate in the Millsaps College football locker room.

White made USA College Football’s second-team Preseason All-America team as a linebacker, but while he was thrilled by the recognition, he said he takes preseason honors with a grain of salt.

“It’s a big honor,” he said. “But preseason doesn’t really mean anything. I’m really trying to be All-American after the season.”

Last season White led the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in tackles with 97 and made the All-SCAC team. He had five games in which he recorded 10 tackles or more, including a 17-tackle performance against Trinity University.

“We just had a real good defense,” White said. “We flew around to the ball, and me and the other linebackers worked real well together and made plays.”

This year the Majors move to the Southern Athletic Association, but a new conference does not mean White lowered his expectations.

“I’m trying to have over 100 tackles, a couple interceptions and I want to be an All-American,” he said. “But my main goal is I want to be defensive player of the year for the conference.”

White said he loves the bond he has created with his teammates during his time at Millsaps.

“Millsaps is a hard school, and I’ve seen so many people fail on football and everything, so the ones that made it through, I’ve been through more with them than almost anybody,” White said. “They are like my family. We are a group of friends, and we have each others’ backs and we want to win a championship.”

White said he is ready to take on more of a leadership role as a senior this season.

“I’m pretty much the leader of the defense,” he said. “We have a couple other seniors on the defense, but the responsibility falls on me. I’m not too vocal of a guy. I don’t like to get in and scream, and I’m not too eloquent, so I can’t give good speeches, but I try to lead by example.”

White’s younger brother, Semmes, is also a member of the Majors’ defense. Semmes is a sophomore defensive back who is fighting for his spot in the starting rotation, J.E.B. said.

“I really enjoy (playing with him),” J.E.B. said. “It’s something a whole lot of people don’t get to do. But I don’t get to hit him, and that’s a bad thing.”

J.E.B. said he is excited about his senior season starting Thursday against Mississippi College.

He said he is also excited about making the most of his final year of college.

“I love being back at school,” he said. “There is nothing better. I would love to go back and do it again. It’s much more fun that going to get a job.”