A number of people have represented the Acadiana area in the National Football League.

All summer long, we’re going to spotlight the fantastic athletes from the area, people that were actually born in one of the Acadiana parishes, that went on to play football at the highest level, the NFL.

Yesterday, we profiled Crowley native Carlos Pennywell.

Today, we spotlight Lyman White.

Born on January 3, 1959 in Lafayette, White went to Franklin High School.

Following his high school years, White went to college at LSU, where he was a standout linebacker for the Tigers.

The 6-foot, 217-pound White was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2nd round of the 1981 NFL Draft.

White made his NFL debut with the Falcons in 1981, at the age of 22, appearing in all 16 games, including one as a starter.

The following season, 1982, would prove to be the last for in the NFL for White, as a tumor was found in his femur bone, forcing multiple surgeries.

After a third recurrence of cancer, White's short NFL career unfortunately came to an end.

Following his playing days, White ventured into the restaurant business with two Buffalo Wings Expresses in Baton Rouge in the late ’80s., before running a drugs and alcohol counseling program for at-risk students.

In 2001, White was hit with a 32-count indictment on Medicaid fraud charges, stemming from what apparently was an inappropriate use of Medicaid funds as it related to drug use intervention and counseling.

Because of the indictment, and a plea bargain agreement, White spent close to three years in federal prison.

Today, White, who is 58-years old, has turned his life around,  and lives in Baton Rouge.

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