The Journey to Number 12
Aug 21, 2019 | Football
Braden White arrived at Texas A&M not knowing anything about the 12th Man. The Florence, Alabama, native now proudly wears the No. 12 on his chest, on his back . . . and on his sleeve.
A&M coach Jimbo Fisher announced Tuesday that White will serve as the 12th Man for 2019.
"I know all about E. King Gill now," White said. "It's such an honor. When I first came to A&M, I didn't really know any of the traditions. In three years, as I've lived through the traditions and everything, this has turned into somewhere I love, where I call home now. To be able to take part in one of the traditions, it means absolutely the world to me."
White had no idea he was in the running to replace Cullen Gillaspia. It was a normal day with White following his normal routine until Fisher announced in a team meeting that he was "rewarding someone with the No. 12."
Fisher explained the tradition and what a big deal it is to be "represent this University" before finally calling White's name.
"I was a little stunned," the 225-pound linebacker said. "I don't know. I was just expecting another day of practice, just get ready for next week. It came out of nowhere."
White's father, Brad, was sitting in a meeting at work when he got a group text from a friend congratulating him on the news.
"I'm going, 'Where did you get this information?' I was questioning him," Brad White said. "I got home, and it was real. It was awesome.
"But he's earned every bit of this. It's just him. He loves it."
Brad White, 61, was a defensive tackle at the University of Tennessee whom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a 12th-round choice in 1981. He played for three teams in his seven NFL seasons.
One of his college teammates was former A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis.
Growing up in Alabama, Braden White was expected to pick between Auburn or Alabama. It's what most of his classmates did.
White, though, wanted to play football, and he wanted to play Division I football.
He broke his tibia his senior season and needed a rod to repair it. White received some Division II interest, but none interested him.
White was attracted to A&M's academics, and Brad White sent his son's tape to Chavis.
"Braden picked Texas A&M for Texas A&M," Brad White said. "He knew coach Chavis from me, but that's what he wanted to do. He wanted an opportunity."
Braden White became a priority walk-on in 2016.
"It definitely got some looks," Braden said of his decision. "I mean, A&M itself, even if I wasn't going there for football, people would have gone, 'A&M? You want to do that far?' Of course, they thought I might get homesick. But it was something I wanted to do.
"D-II schools that offered me thought I was crazy for not taking those. I definitely took a risk, went out on a limb. But it just felt right, and I just went for it."
White redshirted as a true freshman, earning the defensive scout team MVP award at the annual team banquet. He played every game as a redshirt freshman in 2017 and appeared in four games at the end of last season after returning from a broken foot, winning the team award for top conditioned athlete despite his injury.
This season, White will play on three special teams units. He is second-team on the punt return team.
So, taking the field on either the kickoff team or the kickoff return team on Aug. 29 against Texas State won't be anything new to White. Wearing the No. 12 will.
"I have a whole lot of respect for Gillie and everything he's done," White said, "but I mean, I'm not trying to be Cullen Gillaspia. Gillie, he's a heck of a player. I'm a different player. I'm going to do my best, and give all that I can and do whatever it takes to represent the University in the best way that I can."
Gillaspia wore the 12th Man jersey the past 39 games, tying him with Sam Moeller for all-time appearances in the No. 12. The Houston Texans drafted Gillaspia in the seventh round, and he is in training camp competing for an NFL roster spot.
A converted fullback, Gillaspia once sat alongside White in the linebacker meeting room.
"I couldn't be happier for Braden White," Gillaspia said Wednesday. "He's a good kid. Where he is today, with being honored by getting to wear the No. 12, it's a credit to the work ethic he's had over the past three years. The kid is the first one in the weight room; he's the last one out. He's never complained a day in his life. He's a guy you can count on. He's an excellent football player."
Gillaspia doesn't want anyone thinking about him when they see White running down the field. That, he said, wouldn't be fair to White or fair to the spirit of the 12th Man, a tradition dating to 1922 when E. King Gill came out of the stands, suited up and stood ready to play if needed.
"I don't really see the number as my own or anything like that," Gillaspia said. "People talk about big shoes to fill, but I came behind Sam Moeller. It's not necessarily about shoes to fill. It's about going out and representing Texas A&M and representing the student body. That's what the number is about."
White, who graduated earlier this month with a business degree, previously wore No. 58. After the news broke of his "promotion," he grabbed his shoulder pads and headed to practice.
He was surprised to find the equipment staff already had pulled his old jersey off his shoulder pads and replaced it with his new one.
It was a day of surprises for a career filled with surprises.
"If you would have asked me if I would have seen it happening this way, I could never have predicted this," White said. "It's funny how things work out, and the journey you go through, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."
A&M coach Jimbo Fisher announced Tuesday that White will serve as the 12th Man for 2019.
"I know all about E. King Gill now," White said. "It's such an honor. When I first came to A&M, I didn't really know any of the traditions. In three years, as I've lived through the traditions and everything, this has turned into somewhere I love, where I call home now. To be able to take part in one of the traditions, it means absolutely the world to me."
White had no idea he was in the running to replace Cullen Gillaspia. It was a normal day with White following his normal routine until Fisher announced in a team meeting that he was "rewarding someone with the No. 12."
Fisher explained the tradition and what a big deal it is to be "represent this University" before finally calling White's name.
"I was a little stunned," the 225-pound linebacker said. "I don't know. I was just expecting another day of practice, just get ready for next week. It came out of nowhere."
White's father, Brad, was sitting in a meeting at work when he got a group text from a friend congratulating him on the news.
"I'm going, 'Where did you get this information?' I was questioning him," Brad White said. "I got home, and it was real. It was awesome.
"But he's earned every bit of this. It's just him. He loves it."
Brad White, 61, was a defensive tackle at the University of Tennessee whom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a 12th-round choice in 1981. He played for three teams in his seven NFL seasons.
One of his college teammates was former A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis.
Growing up in Alabama, Braden White was expected to pick between Auburn or Alabama. It's what most of his classmates did.
White, though, wanted to play football, and he wanted to play Division I football.
He broke his tibia his senior season and needed a rod to repair it. White received some Division II interest, but none interested him.
White was attracted to A&M's academics, and Brad White sent his son's tape to Chavis.
"Braden picked Texas A&M for Texas A&M," Brad White said. "He knew coach Chavis from me, but that's what he wanted to do. He wanted an opportunity."
Braden White became a priority walk-on in 2016.
"It definitely got some looks," Braden said of his decision. "I mean, A&M itself, even if I wasn't going there for football, people would have gone, 'A&M? You want to do that far?' Of course, they thought I might get homesick. But it was something I wanted to do.
"D-II schools that offered me thought I was crazy for not taking those. I definitely took a risk, went out on a limb. But it just felt right, and I just went for it."
White redshirted as a true freshman, earning the defensive scout team MVP award at the annual team banquet. He played every game as a redshirt freshman in 2017 and appeared in four games at the end of last season after returning from a broken foot, winning the team award for top conditioned athlete despite his injury.
This season, White will play on three special teams units. He is second-team on the punt return team.
So, taking the field on either the kickoff team or the kickoff return team on Aug. 29 against Texas State won't be anything new to White. Wearing the No. 12 will.
"I have a whole lot of respect for Gillie and everything he's done," White said, "but I mean, I'm not trying to be Cullen Gillaspia. Gillie, he's a heck of a player. I'm a different player. I'm going to do my best, and give all that I can and do whatever it takes to represent the University in the best way that I can."
Gillaspia wore the 12th Man jersey the past 39 games, tying him with Sam Moeller for all-time appearances in the No. 12. The Houston Texans drafted Gillaspia in the seventh round, and he is in training camp competing for an NFL roster spot.
A converted fullback, Gillaspia once sat alongside White in the linebacker meeting room.
"I couldn't be happier for Braden White," Gillaspia said Wednesday. "He's a good kid. Where he is today, with being honored by getting to wear the No. 12, it's a credit to the work ethic he's had over the past three years. The kid is the first one in the weight room; he's the last one out. He's never complained a day in his life. He's a guy you can count on. He's an excellent football player."
Gillaspia doesn't want anyone thinking about him when they see White running down the field. That, he said, wouldn't be fair to White or fair to the spirit of the 12th Man, a tradition dating to 1922 when E. King Gill came out of the stands, suited up and stood ready to play if needed.
"I don't really see the number as my own or anything like that," Gillaspia said. "People talk about big shoes to fill, but I came behind Sam Moeller. It's not necessarily about shoes to fill. It's about going out and representing Texas A&M and representing the student body. That's what the number is about."
White, who graduated earlier this month with a business degree, previously wore No. 58. After the news broke of his "promotion," he grabbed his shoulder pads and headed to practice.
He was surprised to find the equipment staff already had pulled his old jersey off his shoulder pads and replaced it with his new one.
It was a day of surprises for a career filled with surprises.
"If you would have asked me if I would have seen it happening this way, I could never have predicted this," White said. "It's funny how things work out, and the journey you go through, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Players Mentioned
FB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballAggies in '26 NFL Draft: Pick-by-Pick
Monday, April 27
2026 Football Legends Game
Saturday, April 18
Maroon & White Postgame: Mike Elko
Saturday, April 18
Maroon & White Postgame: Isaiah Horton, Jamarion Morrow, Noah Mikhail
Saturday, April 18
