ORLANDO, Fla. – Mike White finished his high school career five years ago in Orlando, winning a Florida state championship at a stadium then known as the Citrus Bowl.

The Western Kentucky quarterback will finish his college career back at that building, now known as Camping World Stadium, on Saturday. He and his Hilltoppers (6-6) will face Georgia State (6-5) at 1:30 p.m. CST in the Cure Bowl, to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

“It’s come full circle,” the redshirt senior White said Thursday. “I played my last high school game there and I’ll play my last college game. Hopefully it ends the same way, with a win.”

White’s high school and college careers will end at the same spot, but the five years in between brought plenty of different circumstances.

The Pembroke Pines, Fla., native chose South Florida out of high school, where he played for former WKU star QB and coach Willie Taggart. He was thrust into a starting role as a true freshman.

White threw for 11 touchdowns against 16 interceptions in his two years as USF’s starting quarterback. The Bulls went just 6-18 during White’s time with the program.

Taggart changed offenses after the 2014 season, transitioning from an under-center, run-based attack to an up-tempo offense that incorporated more QB runs. White left, looking for an offense that better fit his skill sets, and found WKU.

“If I had to do it all over again, I’d do the same thing,” White said. “I think I made the right decisions at the time. I’m glad I ended up here (at WKU).

“It took me awhile to get here, but I feel like I got here at the right time.”

White sat out the 2015 season because of NCAA transfer rules, watching fellow Florida native Brandon Doughty lead the Hilltoppers to a 12-2 record and the school’s first Conference USA title.

Then it was White’s turn to take over. He piloted WKU to an 11-3 record in coach Jeff Brohm’s third and final season, a campaign that included a second straight C-USA crown and third straight bowl victory.

White’s senior season hasn’t included as much team success. The Toppers lost four of their final five games this season to stumble to a 6-6 record after four straight years of at least eight wins.

White’s still shined, throwing for 3,826 yards and 24 touchdowns and running for another six. He was named All-Conference USA second team for the second straight season and recently accepted an invitation to the 2018 Senior Bowl, becoming the first WKU QB to do so.

“Obviously last year he came in and set the bar really high,” linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe said. “This year he followed it up with another great year. Shoot, there’s really not much more I can say.

“He’s done a great job leading this team. It’s been a pleasure to play with him, be a captain with him and just see him grow.”

First-year WKU coach Mike Sanford spoke Thursday about White’s mental capacity to learn four different offenses during college – two at USF and two with the Hilltoppers.

That ability to adapt to different systems will be a selling point for White in coming months when NFL Draft preparations begin, Sanford said.

Sanford also praised his quarterback’s humble attitude off the field and his “unflappable” qualities on it.

“He really is a cool, calm, collected player at all times,” Sanford said. “You see that all the time with how he’s playing. You don’t see him get rattled.

“You don’t see his highs get too high, or his lows get too low. He truly is going to stand right there in that middle ground.”

White is embracing his final week as WKU’s starting quarterback. As he noted Thursday, the Hilltoppers’ bowl berth wasn’t guaranteed, especially after a 41-17 pasting at Florida International on Nov. 24 dropped the team to 6-6.

The Cure Bowl bid gave White one final game in a WKU uniform, and a chance to go out a winner in his home state.

“I’m just trying to get the most I can out of my guys because come Saturday about 7 o’clock, I won’t be able to suit up with some of these guys anymore,” White said. “… Every little moment, I’m cherishing.”{&end}