Being drafted into the NFL is supposed to be a great moment, but Keion White's reaction to it Friday had NFL fans thinking it was a military draft.
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The Georgia Tech edge was selected by the Patriots with the 46th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. When NFL Network cut to White as he watched from home, he didn't appear to be too thrilled.
Keion White is drafted by the Patriots and looks absolutely ecstatic. pic.twitter.com/2FK7ItvJcO
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 29, 2023
Patriots coach Bill Belichick is known for his stone face on the sidelines, during press conferences or just about everywhere, which seemed to make White the perfect addition to the New England defense.
MORE: Patriots draft picks 2023: Full list of NFL Draft selections
NFL fans were quick to react to the clip, but they didn't have the full story:
No one has been more mad to be drafted than Keion White.
— Tyler Wise (@TriggeredWise) April 29, 2023
he's simply already practicing his approach to the media once he gets to New England..he'll fit right in https://t.co/jHyaWw4BPz
— Lance Medow (@LanceMedow) April 29, 2023
White's apparent non-reaction could be attributed in part to delays in live broadcast feeds. ESPN's cameras showed a far more excited draftee.
The timing might have been a little off. White's reaction was far more excited than cameras originally showed.pic.twitter.com/LDEOk9pyrO https://t.co/wZK55R0uO3
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 29, 2023
White later explained the situation in a conference call with the New England media, saying he's "a pretty chill person."
Keion White: "I don't know if y'all have seen on TV, but I'm a pretty chill person. I'm not very explosive in excitement in any form." https://t.co/3C320IpT0b
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) April 29, 2023
He added that he was surprised to be selected by the Patriots, a team he didn't have contact with during the pre-draft process.
Despite the lack of contact, Keion White says he believes he's a great fit in New England.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) April 29, 2023
"I'm a very big business person. ... I want to work, and I want to win."
White attended the first round of the draft in Kansas City on Thursday night, but he elected to return home to Atlanta after going undrafted in the first 31 selections. Now he's with a team that seems to operate just like he thinks — all business, all the time.
LIVE: Grades & analysis for every pick in 2023 NFL Draft
While the viral clip made for jokes, it was still nice to see White get his moment in the spotlight on a life-changing night.
