HAIL TO THE REDSKIN: WHITE RETUNS DESPITE SEARING HEAT, MORE THAN 100 COME OUT FOR EX-VALENCIA'S STAR'S CAMP.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

VALENCIA - In the sweltering summer heat stood an unmistakable figure across the local football landscape, Manuel White, who came home Monday.

A legend during his record-breaking days as a Valencia High running back, White plays NFL football for the Washington Redskins after a solid career at UCLA.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound White has been back on his old home field before, but never with such meaning because this time White found himself reconnecting with his youth during the opening session of the Manuel White Football Camp at Valencia High.

Youngsters flocked to meet White in person. To watch him. To listen to him. To learn from him.

How many chances to you get to approach someone who's among the best in the world at what he does?

Special, indeed.

Not just for the kids. For Manuel White, too.

``I'm just excited, not just for a chance to teach these kids some fundamentals, but after going through what I've gone through to be blessed to come back,'' White said. ``It's just an honor to come back.

``There's people who have love for me out here, and this is my chance to give something back.''

More than 100 campers turned out despite a high temperature of 104.

``I think it's pretty cool to meet an NFL player, especially one who went to this school,'' said Jason Greenwald, 12. ``I'm here because I want to follow in my brother's footsteps, and he played at Valencia.''

There was a buzz in the air.

``The kids are just so excited to meet an NFL guy,'' organizer Joe Monteleone said. ``They're all just really excited.''

White knew full well what a captive audience he had. That's why it was important for him to stretch his influence past football and to talk about the way things are in the world.

``Football is just like life. Just like life,'' White said. ``I learned that for the first time right here at Valencia, and the older I got the more I realized just how true that was. I know these kids might have heard that from their coaches or other players, but maybe it will be different coming from me.''

White even plans to invite some special guests -- hint: ex-UCLA teammates who also play in the NFL -- but the one thing he refused to do was participate in a loosely planned 40-yard dash showdown against Valencia speedster running back Shane Vereen, one of California's fastest prep football players.

``Oh no, I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to come get beat in front of everybody at my own camp,'' White said with a smile. ``They said to do something exciting, so we'll just have to figure something out.''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Manuel White, a running back for the Washington Redskins and a former Valencia High standout, puts David Anderson, 9, through drills at a football camp Monday.

(2 -- color) Former Valencia High star Manuel White, who now plays running back for the Washington Redskins, gives 9-year-olds some tough competition at a football camp at Valencia High on Monday.

(3 -- color) David Anderson, 9, goes through drills at a football camp at Valencia High on Monday.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

Box:

Legless lineman not playing (see text)