MORGANTOWN -- Since Pat White once turned down $400,000 to play pro baseball in the Los Angeles Angels' organization so he could play college football, there was no reason to think being drafted a third time by the Major Leagues would sway West Virginia's senior quarterback.

Not right now, at least.

"Baseball isn't in my plans," White said last week. "I'm focused on this year, my last year, so that we can be successful. I'm putting all my time and effort and energy into that."

After an offseason coaching change, new football boss Bill Stewart displayed a willingness to let his players branch out into other sports. It was expected White might try his hand at baseball again this summer.

He's remained on campus virtually all summer leading drills and workouts and said he won't play baseball. He also won't work out for the Cincinnati Reds, who drafted him earlier this month, despite some conversations.

"Baseball's going to be there later," he said.

That was the idea when the Reds used a 49th-round pick to select White. It wasn't a foreign concept, either. It happened twice before.

"I've been out of the game for a long time," said White, who hasn't played at all since his last game in high school in 2004. "It's an honor and a blessing. I guess baseball hasn't passed by me."

The Angels drafted White in the fourth round in 2004 only months after he signed to play football in WVU. The Angels offered the huge payday to White, who was on two Class 6A state championship teams at Daphne (Ala.) High and as a senior batted hit .487 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI and went 6-3 with a 1.58 ERA as a pitcher.

He opted for football.

"I liked them both, but I think football was the better option for me and gave me a better chance to be more successful," he said. "I guess I'm confident in both, but football sounded better at the time. So far, it seems like it turned out pretty good."

White had already won a BCS game and a Big East Player of the Year award when the Angels picked him again in 2007, this time in the 27th round. He was again flattered, though hardly interested.

The story was different this time, though the Reds hope he'll consider the opportunity they can provide next spring, perhaps after the NFL Draft.

"My options are definitely open, but I don't know if (baseball) is part of my future," White said.

Now a two-time Big East Player of the Year with two BCS wins and a number of honors and awards possibly on the way during and after his final season, White believes he has a place in football.

"On a roster hopefully," he said.

At 6 feet 1 and 195 pounds, White is not the prototypical size for an NFL quarterback and he has missed time in each of the past two seasons with injuries.

Even with an optimal season, there remains a possibility White might not convince personnel at the next level that he has what it takes to play the position.

"I'm hoping there's a spot for me," he said. "I can't imagine playing quarterback successfully four years and not being on a team. If that was the case, I definitely would have switched positions 20 years ago."

This is where the Reds might enter the picture. They'd still hold his baseball rights after the NFL Draft and if White isn't taken or isn't satisfied by the situation he's drafted into, they will offer him a chance to return to baseball even if he hasn't even entertained the idea in four years.

"I'm pretty sure it'll take me a while to get it back because it's been a while a while since I last played or swung a bat or caught a fly ball," White said. "But I think if I put my time into it again I'd be pretty good at it."

Contact sportswriter Mike Casazza at mi...@dailymail.com or 319-1142.