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Emma: Bears' Kevin White Is Raring To Go

By Chris Emma--

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (CBS) -- Eventually, Kevin White will be measured for his outstanding abilities -- a unique combination of size and speed that makes him such a special talent.

Right now, we just know Kevin White, the person. After a lost rookie season, we can only judge White on his character.

"His attitude is contagious," Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said of White. "He's very positive. He doesn't have bad days."

White spent his Saturday teaching the game he loves, instructing at the Kevin White Football ProCamp at Elk Grove Village High School. Bright and early, White was a bastion of energy, jumping from drill to drill and playing football with kids.

Because of how natural White seemed, it came as a surprise when he mentioned being struck by nerves when arriving. But then he settled right in.

"Being out here with the kids is great," White said. "I wish that I had someone to come out here, give back and play with me when I was a kid."

Such an uplifting outlook carried White through a difficult 2015 season. He suffered a stress fracture in his lower shin that required surgery during training camp. After being selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft, White never took the field.

White showed up each day at Halas Hall and prepared for his time -- working through a strenuous rehabilitation process and studying as if he were to play each Sunday.

Keeping the smile on his face wasn't always easy, even White.

"I felt like I let my team down, the organization down, the fans down," White said. "That was the hardest thing I had to take through last year."

The Bears picked White without hesitation, believing the star at West Virginia would blossom into an NFL star. He stands at 6-foot-3 and boasts 4.35 speed, a rare blend.

White was to be paired with Alshon Jeffery, creating one of the league's most dynamic receiving tandems. Jay Cutler had his replacement for Brandon Marshall in White, a force opposite of Jeffery, but that hasn't yet come to fruition.

"We're excited about those two," Loggains said of his two top receivers. "I can't wait to get them both on the field at the same time, something we haven't seen in Chicago."

Added White: "We can't wait to really hit it off."

White and Jeffery share a close bond, which came from their connection through the agency of the late, great Eugene Parker. White remains unsure whether Jeffery will be present at Halas Hall for OTAs next week, despite their frequent collaboration.

Throughout the critical offseason, White has worked alongside Cutler to build a chemistry. They've trained together and stayed in constant communication. Cutler has gone out of his way to take White under his wing.

"Jay's a great leader, a great teammate," White said. "He wants nothing but the best for us. He wants to win -- he wants to win now. The bad things (critics) say about Jay are not true at all. He's a really good guy, a really good person once you get to know him. I'm excited for us."

Soon enough, White will be ever present in the Bears' offense. He was brought in to make an impact, and he's working to ensure that happens.

For now, we're stuck judging White by his tremendous character. He's a good guy to believe in.

"I have a lot of potential," he said. "I got to go out there and show it. I'm going to work hard every day."

Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.

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