USC Playmaker Reggie Bush Shines On Every Stage, Rose Bowl Final Warm-Up For NFL?

Jake Curtis, Chronicle Staff Writer

The story of Reggie Bush joining the SF 49ers looked like a classic as it began to unfold the past few months.

The preface already had been written: "I used to love watching the 49ers growing up -- Young, Rice, Ricky Watters," said Bush, who grew up in La Mesa , just outside San Diego . "They used to beat the mess out of teams. My dad and I loved watching them."

The first chapter detailing of his reunion with Helix High School teammate Alex Smith was ready for print: "I would love to play with Alex again, because of the chemistry we had," Bush said.

Bush, this year's Heisman Trophy winner from No. 1 USC Trojans, is too media savvy to say which NFL team he'd prefer to play for, but sportswriters could fill in the blanks.

However, nothing ruins a good story like the truth, and the 49ers spoiled the tale by winning their final two games. The Houston Texans have the No. 1 pick in next spring's NFL Draft.

Presumably that pick will be Bush, even though Bush, a junior, has not stated whether he'll turn pro after this season. Even though Bush's father, LaMar Griffin, has said it's time for Bush to turn pro, Bush is saying to everyone -- "even my parents" -- that he'll decide after Wednesday's ballyhooed Rose Bowl game against No. 2 Texas.

It takes courage, perhaps ignorance, to claim Bush will be anything other than a star in the NFL, but let's play devil's advocate for a moment and make a three-pronged case why Bush is not the sure thing people claim.

1. History: Only five running backs have been the No. 1 pick the past 40 NFL drafts, and they have had varying degrees of success. Ki-Jana Carter, the last runner to be the top pick, in 1995, blew out his knee in his rookie preseason and did little in six probowl seasons. Billy Sims had a big rookie year in Detroit after being drafted in 1980, but he had only three good seasons. Earl Campbell became an immediate star as a rookie in 1978, but he had joined a Houston team that was already decent, having gone 8-6 the previous season. Ricky Bell went to the dreadful Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1977, and had only one good season (his third) in six seasons before his death. O.J. Simpson's status was much like Bush's is now when Simpson was taken first in 1969 -- a can't-miss speedster out of USC. Yet Simpson had three mediocre seasons with a lousy Buffalo Bills team before emerging with five standout years.

2. Offensive line: USC's offensive line may be the best in the country. "They're arguably one of the best offensive lines, not just in the nation, but in the history of college football," Oregon Ducks coach Mike Bellotti said. Although Bush's 8.9 yards per carry is mind-boggling, it should be noted that the other USC tailback, LenDale White, averages 6.7 yards a pop, the second best average among the 44 players who have 1,000 yards rushing. USC's No. 3 tailback, Desmond Reed, averaged 7.2 yards a carry. Often Bush was into the secondary before he had to initiate one of his ankle-breaking moves.

3. Other weapons: Defenses can't focus on stopping Bush because quarterback Matt Leinart was the Heisman Trophy winner last year, wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett is a first-team All-American and White is a third-team All-American. "If it was just Reggie, we could torque the defense to handle him, but that would be a sure way to lose," Texas linebacker Rashad Bobino said. Texas defensive tackle Frank Okam notes the case of Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 1,925 yards with a 5.7 average and was the Heisman runner-up last season, when 2003 Heisman winner Jason White was the Sooners quarterback. Peterson had 1,108 yards (5.0 average) this season with the Sooners breaking in a redshirt freshman quarterback.

Having absorbed all this, though, our eyes still tell us Bush will be an NFL star.

"Back when I was working at Oklahoma Sooners with Barry Switzer (in 1984) while watching film of guys he was recruiting," Texas Longhorns coach Mack Brown said, "he'd talk about a three-play guy or a five-play guy, and he'd say, 'If I have to watch a guy for five plays to figure out if he's good, turn it off because I don't want him.' Well, Reggie is a one-play guy."

He's so elusive Texas defensive coordinator Gene Chizik is schooling his players on the best way to get juked by Bush.

"If you miss a tackle correctly -- and I know that sounds funny -- you can get some help from your friends," Chizik said.

Although Bush's natural talent is considerable -- he had the fastest high school 100-meter time in California in 2002 and says he's been timed in 4.25 seconds in the 40 -- his magic also is the product of his work ethic.

Bush endured vomiting sessions to keep up with the workout LaDainian Tomlinson outlined for him last spring, and Helix High football coach Donnie Van Hook, who was then a Helix assistant coach, recalls the summer before Bush's senior year when Bush used a bike rack to help scale a 10-foot fence so he could get into the school's weight room at 5:30 a.m. and work out.

"The thing about Reggie," Van Hook said, "is that everything is meticulous, the way he dresses, the way he moves. He may be the fastest guy on the football field, but I guarantee he's the slowest getting ready."

LenDale White, a good friend and roommate, says Bush is always the last one on the bus after a game because he takes so long to shower and dress.

"He has to protect his handsomeness," White said.

Everything about Bush is pleasing to the eye, and that includes his many athletic gifts.

Van Hook claims that on the first offensive play of Bush's junior season at Helix, he caught a touchdown pass of 60-some yards from Smith. On the second offensive play, Bush threw a scoring pass of more than 60 yards, and on the fourth play, he ran for about 60 yards for a touchdown. (No word on why Bush was not involved in the third play.) Bush was also the team's punter.

Even in his first season of organized ball as a 9-year-old in Pop Warner, Bush's numbers were hard to believe. In his first game, he had just six carries, but five went for touchdowns and he rushed for 203 yards, according to team statistician Allen Barbour. Bush had one game that season in which he rushed for 544 yards, scored eight touchdowns and kicked three PATs -- all in a 32-minute game.

The possibilities for a 60-minute pro game create a seductive story line, even if San Francisco is not the setting.

Reginald Alfred Bush II

THE BASICS

Height: 6-foot-0

Weight: 200

Birth date: March 2, 1985

High School: Helix, La Mesa ( San Diego County )

THE STATS

Rushing yards in 2005: 1,658 (138.2 yards per game, 4th in nation)

All-purpose yards: 217.6 per game, 1st in nation

Average per carry: 8.9 yards, 1st in nation

Career plays of 20 yards or more: 93

Rushing yards in final two regular-season games: 554

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