Reggie Bush was ready to bolt.
The decision to pass up his senior season at Southern California was a difficult one, but the Heisman Trophy winner said he’s eager for a new challenge – such as playing for a losing team.
The Houston Texans, coming off a 2-14 record and without a winning season in their four-year existence, own the No. 1 pick in April’s draft. Bush could be their choice.
“If they were to pick me, I wouldn’t have a problem with that. I’m just excited to have an opportunity to make my mark at the next level, just to play for an NFL team,” Bush said Thursday. “Whatever team I go to, whether it’s the Texans or another team, I hope I can build the same kind of relationships that I did with my teammates here.”
Bush is expected to be one of the first players taken in the draft along with teammate Matt Leinart and Texas quarterback Vince Young.
Houston general manager Charley Casserly said he likes the way things have shaped up for the Texans.
“All we can say is what has happened here with Reggie Bush and Vince Young declaring, with the addition of Matt Leinart among other players, is that you have a real strong top of the draft,” Casserly said. “I think it’s much stronger than it was a year ago.”
So what’s that mean?
“It means we’re going to get a real good player if we keep the pick, and if we trade the pick, we’ve got certainly a very valuable commodity to trade.”
Bush, who turns 21 in March, made his announcement a day after running mate LenDale White made his decision to leave school early to go to the NFL. Bush had 1,740 yards rushing and 2,890 all-purpose yards this season for the Trojans. He averaged an amazing 8.7 yards per carry, caught 37 passes for 478 yards and led the nation in all-purpose yards with 222.3 per game. He and White combined for 99 career touchdowns to break the NCAA record of 97 set by Army’s Glenn Davis and Felix “Doc” Blanchard from 1943-46.
Colorado: Kicker Mason Crosby, a consensus All-American and runner-up for the 2005 Lou Groza Award, announced he will return for his senior year.
Crosby converted all 31 extra points this past season and was 21-of-28 in field goals.
Wisconsin: Brian Calhoun, who played only one year for the Badgers after transferring from Colorado, announced he would skip his senior year to enter the NFL draft.
“It was time for me to make that jump,” Calhoun said.
In his lone season with the Badgers, Calhoun became the second player in Big Ten history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in the same season. He finished with 1,636 rushing yards, fifth most in Wisconsin history, and 22 rushing touchdowns, a school record.
Louisville: Junior running back Michael Bush, who ran for 1,143 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2005, will play for the Cardinals next fall rather than enter the NFL draft.
