Wartman-White seeks $1.5 million in injury compensation

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Former Penn State linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White lost the last two seasons due to knee injuries and now is seeking at least $1.5 million as compensation because of last year's season-ending injury.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. Middle District Court, Wartman-White, who went undrafted in this year's draft and hasn't tried out with a team since then, claims that International Specialty Insurance Co. isn't upholding their end of a disability policy he purchased in 2016.

According to court documents obtained by PennLive the Lions' linebacker, who opted not to pursue a medical waiver for a sixth year of eligibility, purchased a total disability and loss of value policy in 2016. That policy would've insured Wartman-White for last season and offered financial compensation should last year's injury derail his potential NFL career.



According to court documents Wartman-White purchased the insurance on Aug. 9 2016 and the policy expires Aug. 1 of 2017. Per the policy, coverage of previous injuries was excluded, dating back to 18 months before this policy was purchased.

Wartman-White tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee two seasons ago and tore his ACL in his right knee last September. Wartman-White took a redshirt year as a freshman in 2012 after he saw the field in a game against Virginia and sustained a knee injury during the opening kickoff.

Seeing college athletes purchase insurance policies is becoming more of the norm, especially for high-end prospects. Former Michigan tight end Jake Butt collected $543,000 from his insurance policy during this year's NFL Draft. At worst Butt was a potential second-round pick, but after he sustained a torn ACL in the Orange Bowl he wasn't selected until the fifth round.

However, given Wartman-White's injury history, there will likely need to be evidence that he had a shot at the NFL prior to his second ACL tear and third knee injury since 2012. Wartman-White was a Butkus Award watch list honoree last July and finished his collegiate career with 124 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss during 24 games.

In several mock drafts leading up to last month's draft, Wartman-White wasn't expected to be selected. He worked out in Pensacola, Fla. leading up to Penn State's pro day, where he wasn't able to participate in all of the drills because of last year's ACL tear.

Messages to Wartman-White's agent were not returned as of 2:30 p.m.