SANTA CLARA – A quarterback who can gobble up yards on the ground as well as through the air?
Before Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick made headlines, Pat White was well-known for his versatility at West Virginia.
Now it appears White, who threw for 6,049 yards and 56 touchdowns for the Mountaineers and rushed for 4,480 yards and 47 touchdowns, will at least get a tryout to be one of Kaepernick's backups.
White told USA Today on Sunday that he has spoken to 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh by phone and that the 49ers are interested in flying him out to Santa Clara for a workout. No date has been set.
"I pay attention to how his players react to coach Harbaugh," White told the newspaper. "They all want to win for him. And he seems to treat them how they want to be treated. I'm excited to get to know him on that level – if I do get that opportunity. I'm very optimistic about making it back to the NFL."
White, 27, was the 44th overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2009. He has been out of football since the Dolphins released him at the end of training camp in 2010.
The 6-foot, 190-pound White attempted five passes in his rookie season in 2009. None was complete, he was sacked once, and he fumbled once. He also rushed 21 times for 81 yards.
White has been working with San Diego-based quarterback coach George Whitfield in an effort to spark an NFL comeback.
The 49ers, meanwhile, have just two quarterbacks on the roster – Kaepernick and Scott Tolzien. Josh Johnson, who spent the 2012 offseason in Santa Clara, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals last week.
Asked about possible additions to the quarterback depth chart earlier this month, Harbaugh declined to discuss names.
Read Matthew Barrows' blogs and archives at www.sacbee.com/sf49ers and listen for his reports Tuesdays on ESPN Radio 1320. Follow him on Twitter @mattbarrows.
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