James White carries banner for Wisconsin program in Super Bowl LI

MADISON - Although New England tailback James White wasn’t named the most valuable player of Super Bowl LI, his performance in the Patriots’ 34-28 overtime victory over Atlanta was arguably the greatest by a player from the University of Wisconsin.

White, who played at UW from 2010-’14, caught a Super Bowl record 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown and rushed six times for 29 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.

He became the first player in Super Bowl history with 10 catches, 100 yards and two rushing touchdowns and set a Super Bowl record for points scored with 20.

“James White, he’s just everything you want in a teammate and a football player: dependable, consistent, durable (and) the best attitude,” said New England quarterback Tom Brady, who was named MVP. “He brings it every day.”

Quarterback Russell Wilson, who played one season at UW after transferring from North Carolina State, completed 18 of 26 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns in Seattle’s 43-8 victory over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII.

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However, the Seahawks’ defense was the story of that game by recording a safety, returning an interception for a touchdown and harassing quarterback Peyton Manning from start to finish.

Wilson completed 12 of 21 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-24 loss to New England in Super Bowl XLIX.

His lone interception came with 26 seconds left in the game, after the Seahawks had driven from their 20 to the Patriots’ 1.

Sunday marked the eighth consecutive Super Bowl in which a UW player participated.

No one set records as White did, however.

White remains the No. 5 rusher in program history with 4,015 yards and 45 touchdowns.

He trails Ron Dayne (7,125 yards, 71 TDs), Montee Ball (5,140 yards, 77 TDs), Melvin Gordon (4,915 yards, 45 TDs) and Anthony Davis (4,676 yards and 42 TDs).

However, White’s per-carry average of 6.2 is No. 2 behind only Gordon (7.8).

“It still feels surreal to me,” White said Monday on CBS This Morning. “I really haven’t wrapped my head around it. ... I really can’t put it into words. ...

“I just want to be an accountable football player, an accountable person.

“I love each and every one of my teammates. I just try to go to work each and every day and give everything I have.”