William White was drafted No. 85 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1988 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. 170 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #85
- Round
- 4
- Draft class
- 1988
- NFL games
- 170
- Years as starter
- 8
- Career AV
- 4639th at Ohio State
The pick
How William White came off the board in 1988.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
Ohio State
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
170 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value
- Games played
- 170
- Seasons as a starter
- 8
- Career approximate value
- 4639th among Ohio State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 2861% of career value
- Final season
- 199810 years after the draft
Around pick 85
Who came off the board on either side of William White.
Auburn
West Virginia
Tennessee
North Carolina
Ohio State in the 1988 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Ohio State
#29
Chris Spielman
LB · DET
Ohio State · 1× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl
#56
Alex Higdon
TE · ATL
Ohio State
#68
Tom Tupa
QB · ARI
Ohio State · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl
#156
George Cooper
RB · MIA
Ohio State
#185
Ray Jackson
DB · SEA
Ohio State
#277
Henry Brown
T · WAS
Ohio State
Other DB picks from Ohio State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Malcolm Jenkins
DB · NO · 2009
Ohio State · 3× Pro Bowl
#23
Antoine Winfield
DB · BUF · 1999
Ohio State · 3× Pro Bowl
#8
Donte Whitner
DB · BUF · 2006
Ohio State · 2× Pro Bowl
#21
Nate Clements
DB · BUF · 2001
Ohio State · 1× Pro Bowl
#3
Shawn Springs
DB · SEA · 1997
Ohio State · 1× Pro Bowl
#271
Shaun Gayle
DB · CHI · 1984
Ohio State · 1× Pro Bowl
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
William White in the 1988 NFL Draft
William White is a Defensive back out of Ohio State selected No. 85 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1988 NFL Draft. 170 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value Ohio State has produced 284 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was William White drafted?
William White was selected No. 85 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1988 NFL Draft (Rd 4). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/william-white.
What college did William White play for?
William White played college football at Ohio State in the Big Ten. See every Ohio State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/ohio-state-buckeyes.
How did William White's NFL career turn out?
170 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 46 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/william-white.