Russell White Russell Lamar White ( born December 15 , 1970 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League ( NFL ) for a single season in 1993 . White played college football for the University of California , Berkeley , and was recognized as an All - American . Thereafter , he played professionally for the NFL ' s Los Angeles Rams . Early years . White was born in Pacoima , California . He graduated from Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino , California , where he played for the Crespi Carmelite Celts high school football team . As a sophomore tailback in 1986 , he led the team to a state championship , rushing for 256 yards in the championship game . Slowed by injuries as a senior in 1988 , he still gained 1 , 379 yards on the ground , caught 43 passes for 529 yards , scored 25 touchdowns , and was named to California Football ' s all - state team . He completed his three high school seasons with 5 , 998 rushing yards , 94 touchdowns and 568 points — all California state high school records . In 1986 and again in 1987 , he was recognized as a high school All - American by " USA Today " and " Scholastic Coach " , and was also a two - time Cal Hi Sports California High School Football Player of the Year . College career . White received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of California , Berkeley , where he played for the California Golden Bears football team from 1990 through 1992 . He enrolled in 1989 , but was ineligible to play as a freshman under the NCAA ' s Proposition 48 because he did not score high enough on the SAT college entrance exam . Subsequently diagnosed as suffering from dyslexia , he received tutoring and qualified academically to play in 1990 . In the Bears ' 1990 season opener against the Miami Hurricanes on September 15 , the first time he ever touched the ball in a college game , he returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown . As a junior in 1991 , he rushed for 1 , 177 yards and 14 touchdowns , and was recognized as a consensus first - team All - American , having received first - team honors from the Football Writers Association of America and the Walter Camp Foundation . During his three - season college career , he amassed 3 , 367 yards and a 5 . 1 yards - per - carry average to become the Golden Bears ' all - time rushing leader . He also scored 35 touchdowns on the ground — the most career rushing touchdowns in team history — and compiled fifteen games in which he rushed for 100 yards or more . White graduated from the university in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social welfare , and was inducted into the University of California Hall of Fame in 2003 . Professional career . The Los Angeles Rams selected White in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft , and he played for the Rams for a single season in . He appeared in five games for the Rams , primarily as a kick returner . He later signed with the Green Bay Packers in , but played in no regular season games . Post - playing career . White was the athletic director and head football coach at Desert Chapel High School in Palm Springs , California where he led the Eagles to back to back CIF Division titles in 2002 and 2003 . White is now a teacher and was hired as the new head football coach at Castlemont High School in Oakland , California on April 30 , 2010 . White is the nephew of former University of Southern California running back and Heisman Trophy winner Charles White , and the cousin of former UCLA and San Francisco 49er defensive back and kick returner Kermit Alexander .