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Maroon Madness: No. 3 Danny White vs. No. 6 Charley Taylor

Two of ASU’s most dynamic footballers.

ASU/NBC Sports

The Matchup: White (63) and Taylor (76) are a few of the eldest Sun Devils to fill our bracket, but their legendary accreditations make for a marquee six vs. three matchup.

No. 3 Danny White

Basic Info: Born: Feb. 9, 1952 in Mesa, Arizona. High School: Westwood (Mesa). Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 193 pounds. ASU Career (1971-73), NFL/WFL: Southmen (1974-75), Cowboys (1976-1988). Coaching: Arizona Rattlers (1992-2004), Utah Blaze (2006-2008)

Notables: In his three seasons as starting quarterback and a punter at ASU, White won three consecutive Fiesta Bowls, beating Florida State (45-38), Missouri (49-35) and Pittsburgh (28-7) from 1971-73, respectively. White’s success at QB led his jersey to sit retired. However, the special teamer was drafted by the Cowboys in 1974 as a punter. To play QB, White manifested two seasons with the Memphis Southmen World Football League. The WFL folded in 1976, so White signed with the Cowboys and played 13 seasons, winning Super Bowl XII along the way. He also won two ArenaBowl championships as a coach.

What you don’t know: White was recruited to ASU as a baseball player, but legendary football coach Frank Kush convinced the head of baseball, Bobby Wrinkles, to let him limbo from the diamond to the gridiron.

White’s Resume

ASU Career
ASU Career
33-4 record as starting QB
5,932 passing yards
59 passing TDs
36 INTs
Fiesta Bowl winner (1971-73)
1973 WAC Offensive Player of the Year
Led WAC in passing yards each year at QB (1971-73)
NFL Career
1982 Pro Bowl
Second-team All-Pro (1979, 81-83
Longest punt: 73 yards
Passing yards: 21,959
Passing TDs: 155
INTs: 132
Super Bowl champ (XII)

No. 6 Charley Taylor

Basic Info: Born: Sept. 28, 1941 in Grand Prairie, Texas. High School: Dalworth (Grand Prairie). Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. ASU Career (1960-63), NFL: Redskins (1964-77). Coaching: Redskins wide receivers (1981-94).

Notables: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984, Taylor played in the early days of the Kush era and won a WAC Championship in 1963. He converted from a halfback to a full-time wide receiver three years into his NFL career and finished top-10 both in rushing and receiving yards as a rookie in 1964. Taylor made the playoffs five times with the Redskins and competed in Super Bowl VII.

What you don’t know: Taylor pitched and played third base for ASU baseball.

Taylor’s resume

ASU Career
ASU Career
All-American (2x)
1,439 rushing yards
19 rushing TDs
2nd in WAC in rushing yards in 1963
6.8 rush yards per attempt (1963 & 64)
1963 WAC champion
NFL Career
No. 3 pick in 1964 draft (Redskins)
Led NFL in receptions (1966, 67)
8 Pro Bowls
First-Time All-Pro
Led NFL w/ 9.2 yards per touch (1966)
9,110 career receiving yards