The Centurions: #10 Jeris White

The Star-Bulletin's countdown of UH football's "Centurions", the 100 greatest players in the University of Hawaii's 100 years of football, continues with #10, cornerback Jeris White.

Kalani Simpson profiles White.

In the spring of his senior year, Dave Holmes called, then came over and talked to his mother and father, offered a full ride for four years. White thinks there may have been a couple of jucos after him too, but UH was the only four-year school to show any interest. He accepted. He would play for UH.

But first there was a Hawaii-California all-star football game. "I think they had it one time, and I played in it," White said. "Lynn Swann was on the California team."

In the week of practices he caught everyone's eye. College coaches asked him where he was going. Hawaii, he said. People told him he should go to the mainland instead. He was too good. If things didn't work out, he could always come back home. (The same old story; it's been happening since leather-helmet days.)

He was appalled, when, all week, local people told him the same thing. "You're always whining about guys who are good who go to the mainland and you're telling me to do that?" he says.

But no. He would go to UH, and wear No. 85, and hit people.