CHARLOTTE – Parker White wasn’t even a football player his first year as a University of South Carolina student. When he did join the program in 2016 it was as a walk-on. He didn't see action.
But the 23-year-old redshirt senior who graduated from Mount Pleasant’s Wando High School will have his name painted onto an honor wall in the Northwest corner inside Williams-Brice Stadium as one of the school's individual football record holders.
White moved past Elliott Fry on Dec. 30 with 12 points – three field goals and three extra points – in the Gamecocks' 38-21 Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over North Carolina at Bank of America Stadium.
South Carolina’s only four-year starting kicker entered the bowl game three points behind Fry, who scored 359 points from 2013-16.
Fry grew up and went to high school in the Dallas area but lives near White in Mount Pleasant. He’s been on and off NFL practice squads this season and was the Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker in a Dec. 26 victory over Pittsburgh before getting released this week.
As incentive, Fry promised White a dinner at Hall's Chophouse on King Street in Charleston as a reward for breaking the record.
"I'll probably get some sort of rib-eye steak or something," White said. "It should be a fun time. Just guys being dudes. Just me and him eating a nice meal together."
He got the record with a 30-yard field goal to give underdog South Carolina an 18-0 lead in the first quarter. White, 16 of 17 on field goals this season, finished with 368 career points.
White offered much thanks. To Bob Hayes, his late Wando special teams coach and to former Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp.
Also snapper Matthew Bailey and holder Kai Kroeger. Â
Having steadily improved as a field goal kicker over five active seasons at South Carolina, White kicked a career-long 54-yard field goal against Kentucky in September.
He has made six game-winning field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime, including this season in a 20-17 victory at East Carolina.
"There's no better way this could have ended," White said, citing the winning season, bowl victory and career scoring record. "It's a storybook ending. It's pretty incredible."
Collin Mackie, South Carolina’s kicker from 1987-1990, is third on the career scoring list with 330 points.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Ryan Succop (2005-2008) is fourth with 251 points and former running back Marcus Lattimore (2010-12) is fifth with 246 points.
Follow Gene Sapakoff on Twitter @sapakoff
