“You don’t know who are going to be the stars in this game,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “Blair came in and had a huge play on the first third down and then he goes 60-plus yards on a slant — it was a big play. … Blair is a gamer and a tremendous person.”

Although Saturday’s performance transformed White from an unknown to the latest star to be remembered for what he did in an MSU/ U-M game, it’s how he got there that his teammates remember most.

After being a walk-on for three years, White, a 2005 graduate of Nouvel Catholic Central High in Saginaw, earned a scholarship from Dantonio and the MSU coaching staff.

When it was announced that White had earned a scholarship following the 2007 season, senior quarterback Brian Hoyer said the Spartans reacted with loud applause — and some players even teared up.

“Blair is, he’s actually an inspiration to me,” sophomore wide receiver Mark Dell said. “He came so far. He came as a walk-on here, he earned himself a scholarship — we actually gave him a standing (ovation) when they announced he was on scholarship because he deserved it.

“He’s one of the hardest workers on the team. He’s the first in almost every drill, so he definitely deserves it and I think today was all worth his hard work.”

Following Saturday’s game, Hoyer and senior running back Javon Ringer were the first two Spartans out for postgame interviews. About halfway through, White finally walked into the media room — only after doing a TV interview.

As the former walk-on sat down, Hoyer and Ringer praised their wide receiver, whom Hoyer called “one of the hardest-working kids on the team.”

After opening by saying he thought Hoyer and Ringer were “going a little bit too far” with their praise, White admitted that having a big day was something he always thought about.

“It’s always a dream,” White said. “I’m not going to say that it was a dream exactly, but working hard and every day coming in and knowing I have the opportunity to make some plays is great, but I’m just going to keep working.”

As White deferred credit of his play to well-thrown passes by Hoyer and the rest of the offense doing their job, Ringer and Hoyer just shook their heads and called him humble.

In order to give “Whitey” his proper due, Ringer — MSU’s top playmaker and Doak Walker Award candidate — gave the former walk-on perhaps one of highest compliments he could receive.

“Whitey is definitely one of the only athletes that I’ve looked at and said, ‘Man, I wish I could do some of the things that he does,’” Ringer said. “I’ve watched Whitey time after time make play after play after play ever since my freshman year.

“Seeing his performance today, I knew he was capable of doing it. I feel so honored to be on the same team as Whitey and play on the same field as someone who works as hard as he does.”