Marques White wasn’t always a strong safety for Phoenix Brophy College Prep's football team.

Before White was returning touchdowns as a varsity defensive back, he was running the ball on offense for Brophy. On Friday, he continued to display his knack for being around the ball during Brophy's 44-21 win over visiting Hamilton.

He recovered a Hamilton turnover and intercepted two passes, including a 29-yard Pick Six. White may be this season's breakout star for Brophy. 

“As a sophomore, are you kidding me, he (White) is a remarkable player and a remarkable young man,” Brophy head coach Scooter Molander said. “He’s one of the more humble young man you will ever see and comes from a great family.”

White began his career at Brophy on offense, but has started at strong safety for Brophy this season.

“The transition from running back to safety was actually not too bad,” White said. “(Defensive coordinator Thurmond) Moore helped me get through the transition and just really nurtured and cared for what I was doing.”

White's willingness to adapt to his new role impressed Thurmond. 

“It’s what’s so fun about teaching football with these guys,” Moore said. “It’s always a learning process, but they seem to pick up on what you tell them, and then the character of these kids and what we plan and what we try to do is off the charts.”

Through seven games, White has 34 total tackles and three forced fumble recoveries.

The ball magnet also has intercepted three passes, two of which have gone for touchdowns.  

“It (INT return) fuels the whole team," he said. "It gives everybody a boost and everybody just gets hyped. It’s an incredible feeling.”

After scoring Friday, White didn't stop running, sprinting past the goal line and then through the entire sideline, with his teammates chasing him.

“The first time I laid eyes on him I thought he would be phenomenal, and he’s even better than what I thought,” Moore said. “He’s only going to get better.”

White leads a defense that has forced 25 turnovers in seven games, leading to a plus-13 turnover margin.

The defense allows just 10 points per game as well, highlighted by two shutout performances.

“Every game we try to hold [the opponent] to 17 or less,” White said. “To create all these turnovers is really helpful and gets us an extra boost in the game.”

Although the defense did not hold Hamilton under 17 points Friday, it created opportunities for its offense.

“Building the offense is built on the defense,” Molander said.

Moving forward, Brophy has high expectations of winning a title in the state’s top division, 6A Premier.

“We went 1-0 this week, and that is our goal every week,” Molander said. “We know that there are a lot of really, really good football teams out there and we know we are one.”

Although there is still a lot more football left, White will always remember the game versus Hamilton.

“This was the game of my life, obviously,” White said. “It can only get better from here.”