Aiden White grew up watching football games at Marist College in Poughkeepsie.

He went there with his family a lot and went to youth camps when he was young. Next fall, he will suit up as a member of the Red Foxes as he recently verbally committed to playing Division I football at Marist College starting in the Fall 2024 season.

He is the first Valley Central football player to get recruited to play Division I football since Zach Adler in 2011.

“It’s going to be amazing,” said White, a rising senior at Valley Central High School. “I can’t wait. I never thought I would be in this position today, but I’m really excited. I can’t wait for the next few years.”

White will be joining a Marist Red Foxes program that is going through some changes.

Jim Parady, formerly the longest-tenured coach in Division I football – since 1992 – announced his retirement. He will be succeeded by Mike Willis, who most recently served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Princeton University, in December. He spent the next several months building his staff.

White was recruited by the new regime.

“They’re all very young and they’re ready to win,” White said. “They’re trying to bring a new culture to Marist, and everything is new.”

White is 6-foot-6, and weighs about 260 pounds, and he played on both the offensive and defensive line.

While he excels on both sides, the Red Foxes plan to use him on offense.

“I think I can bring size for them,” White said. “I plan on gaining probably about 25 to 30 pounds by my freshman year. I think I can bring a lot of strength for them and just physicality overall.”

He’ll be joining a Marist team that struggled last year in Parady’s final season, running a 4-7 record, losing four straight games to end the season.

All four of their wins came between September 23 and October 21.

Playing Division I football – or even for the Red Foxes – didn’t cross White’s mind until after the 2023 season. While the Vikings struggled to a 3-6 record, White stood out.

Willis and his staff reached out to him, then he visited for the Red Foxes’ spring game on April 6. He then attended their camp in June.

“They liked what they saw, and everything got rolling after that,” White said.

He formally announced his commitment on July 13, about a month before he is scheduled to take the field with the Vikings for the final time.

“They have awesome facilities (at Marist),” White said. “I’m excited to be in there with their facilities, to be with the coaches, perfect my craft, and just be with a bunch of other high-level athletes to push me to be better.”

But before that, there is one final season of Valley Central football in front of him, which will be coached by Parady’s longtime associate head coach and defensive coordinator Scott Rumsey, who took over for five-year coach Andrew LaVallie.

Even though success has eluded the Vikings, White is grateful.

“I want to thank my parents, teammates and coaches because without any of them, I won’t be here today,” White said. “I never thought this would have been possible, but I’m really excited for my senior year. I think we’re going to do great things.”