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LenDale Whiteby Ben "Red" Beard

Which USC running back scored the most touchdowns this year? Most people would say Reggie Bush. Most people would be wrong. Bush's back mate, LenDale White led the Trojans with 24 rushing touchdowns this season, including three in Wednesday's Rose Bowl loss to Texas. In fact, Lendale White holds the USC record for most career touchdowns. A very impressive feat considering he overtook the likes of Bush, Charles White, Marcus Allen, and OJ Simpson.

The Trojans' loss and Vince Young's amazing performance overshadowed what was a very impressive showing by White. He ran for 120 yards, 3 scores, and a very impressive 6.2 ypc (yards per carry). Much of the praise should be given to the offensive line that opens the holes but White has all the tools to become a feature back in the NFL, size, quickness and a penchant for holding onto the ball. His fumble in the Rose Bowl was his only fumble all season.

Reggie Bush may have the speed and the moves to make opposing defenses look silly. Playing against Pac-10 defenses will do that but things will not be that easy at the next level. The speed of most of today's NFL defenses will be something Bush has never seen and without a dominating line like he had at USC, Bush will be hard pressed to live up to the unbelievable hype surrounding this young man.

LenDale White on the other hand has, in my opinion, a leg up on Bush. At 6'2" 235 lbs., White has the size to be a bruising back that can wear down defense's. With Bush and Leinhart hogging the spotlight, if White decides to enter the draft, he could conceivably fall to the later parts of the first round to a playoff contender. Look for a team like Minnesota, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, NY Giants, or even the Colts (depending how they handle Edgerrin James) and Denver to pick him up. Any one of those teams have the tools already in place to contend so White would not be expected to come in and work miracles.

If I have the number one pick in the draft I would still take Reggie Bush but White will make some team very happy next year and years to come when he suits up on Sunday's.

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