He's tied for the league lead in interceptions and for most of the season has been among the top cornerbacks in lowest opponent passer rating when targeted. So on Tuesday evening it was anything but surprising to see Tre'Davious White named to his first career Pro Bowl.
"Obviously I'm excited about it," said White upon hearing the news. "I feel like this should be my second or third one, but it is what it is. I mean, it's good to finally get in and be recognized by your peers and your fellow coaches in the league for what you do so, it's pretty cool."
White isn't wrong with that statement. As a rookie the cornerback was making game-changing and game-sealing plays with forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and interceptions that helped Buffalo end their 17-year playoff drought and reach the postseason in 2017.
But White knew building a strong individual player reputation often needs to be accompanied by a team that wins games.
"Obviously I feel like you just make the plays that come your way and capitalize on the moments that you know that stuff will come, but I feel like with us winning, and more people getting to watch us and winning on a big-time stage is ultimately was what let us get some individual accolades."
White certainly put an exclamation point on his season before the Pro Bowl voting results were revealed on Tuesday with a two-interception performance in Buffalo's 17-10 over the Steelers on Sunday Night football.
His six interceptions through the first 14 games this season are already a single-season career high and match his career total from his first two NFL seasons.
White was the only player on Buffalo's roster to receive a Pro Bowl nod. Of course there were other members of Buffalo's third-ranked defense that White felt could have joined him in receiving such recognition.
"Jordan Phillips is leading the AFC in sacks, Jordan Poyer, Tremaine (Edmunds), I can go on and on," White said. "There's no guy on our defense that just stands out. Anybody on any given Sunday can make a big-time play."
To make more big time plays himself, White made a concerted effort to make his ball skills elite this past offseason with countless drills. He continued to put in extra time in after practice during the regular season.
Frazier often accompanies White to provide counsel on his additional post-practice work. It's wholly appreciated by Buffalo's top corner, knowing Frazier was a former NFL cornerback himself.
"He's always testing my ball skills and just challenging me to be the best player I can be and then to have a guy like that to be the D-coordinator, a guy that's played the cornerback position we can connect on a different level because he's been in certain situations that I've been in in the game and he knows how this cornerback situation goes. I'm definitely fortunate."
As for where White's career goes from here with a Pro Bowl now on his resume', Frazier still sees the Bills top cover man as an ascending player.
"I think he would tell you for sure that there is a lot of room to grow," said Frazier. "He's working at his game to get better and I don't think that'll change going forward. There's not a plateau in sight and that's a good thing for us. I mean, he wants to get better and as long as he's challenging himself and we're challenging him as well, he will get better. He has a strong desire to be the best and along with the talent that he has as long as he continues to work, he will get better."
Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier fully believes that extra work has made a difference, and texted White this past Monday on the heels of his strong Sunday night performance.
"I wanted him to know how much I appreciate all the hard work he's put into it," Frazier said. "Those interceptions he made Sunday night, they were not easy, especially the deep ball. That takes some concentration, get your feet down in bounds and the one that he picked off on the sideline, he did it with so much confidence that there was never any doubt. So, he's just come so far when it comes to catching the football and just very proud of what he's accomplished and what he's doing with the work he's put in. But a lot of it comes from his willingness to put the time in. He's always had the talent to be able to do it but he's put that extra time and it's paying dividends."
"It's just a testament is just trial and error, just many reps and doing it over and over again and learning from mistakes and just being in games and being in tight situations, just over and over again and just this year things are starting to click for me," said White. "I'm starting to trust my gut and trust my film study and just go for the play and just play with no conscience. I think that's been the biggest difference between year one and two."
Bills have nine Pro Bowl alternates
Although Tre'Davious White was the only Pro Bowl starter from the Bills roster, there were a handful of players selected at alternates at their respective positions.
LB Tremaine Edmunds and return man Andre Roberts were both named first alternates. QB Josh Allen was named a third alternate.
Below is a full list of Buffalo's Pro Bowl alternate selections.
LB Tremaine Edmunds (first)
Andre Roberts (first)
Mitch Morse (second)
Josh Allen (third)
John Brown (fourth)
Jerry Hughes (fourth)
Frank Gore (fourth)
Jordan Phillips (fourth)
