Bears Say They Have a Catch in Conway : Locals: USC standout is No. 7 overall pick. UCLA’s Gray is first selection in second round by Seahawks. Rams take Russell White in the third round.

Curtis Conway admitted he was a bit nervous Sunday as he waited to find out when he would be picked in the NFL draft.

The swift USC wide receiver and kick returner, who turned pro after his junior season, didn’t have long to wait. The Chicago Bears used the seventh pick overall to select the versatile Trojan, who in only three seasons became the school’s all-time leading kickoff returner.

“Now I can go eat,” he said with a laugh. “I wasn’t concerned with being picked in the top five or 10, but I would have been disappointed if I had not gone in the first round. Going that high makes me feel even better about my decision to give up my last year at USC.

“I had heard the Bears wanted me, but you know how crazy the NFL draft can be. I was relieved when I heard my name called. Now, I am anxious to join the Bears. I need to learn their system and then I’ll be ready to play. I can’t wait.”

Conway was the only Southland player chosen in the first round, but UCLA cornerback Carlton Gray barely missed. He was chosen by Seattle with the first pick in the second round, the 30th player selected.

Russell White, a running back from California and Encino Crespi High, was taken in the third round by the Rams. USC’s wide receiver Travis Hannah was taken by Houston in the fourth round, No. 102 overall, and Derek Brown, a running back at Anaheim Servite who played at Nebraska, was chosen by New Orleans No. 109 overall.

“I’m confident that we drafted a player who will fill our needs right away,” the Bears’ new coach, Dave Wannstedt, said of Conway. “We can be innovative and do a lot of things with Curtis.”

Conway has sprinter’s speed, but he hasn’t had that much experience as a wide receiver. The Trojans used him in several roles, including quarterback in his freshman year.

He caught 49 passes for 764 yards and scored five touchdowns last season, and there was criticism of Coach Larry Smith for not making more use of him.

In three years, Conway returned 73 kickoffs for 1,723 yards. He returned 67 punts for 679 yards.

Conway set a USC record when he returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown. He also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.

Conway was also a sprinter on the track team. On the first day of spring football practice last year, he also competed in a track meet, running a career-best 10.28 seconds in the 100 meters.

“I have much to learn about being a wide receiver,” Conway said. “That’s why I’m so anxious to get started. Mostly the things I did at USC were because of my athletic ability. Once I learn to be a true wide receiver, I think I will be a dangerous threat. I bring excitement to a game. I hope to show Chicago fans just what I’m capable of doing.”

Ivan Fears, the Bears’ receivers coach, called Conway, “a hell of a pick. I didn’t think we’d get him. I figured he’d be gone. He’ll light up the boards for us.”

Gray intercepted 16 passes at UCLA and was a consensus All-American last season.

“Yes, I’m disappointed that I wasn’t taken in the first round,” said Gray, who was also an academic All-American. “But I have no control over that.

“All I can do is go to Seattle and show the rest of the NFL that they made a mistake in not drafting me.

“I’m not sorry I will be staying on the West Coast. I’m grateful for the opportunity to play for Seattle. I have an added incentive after not being picked in the first round.”

Gray’s 16 interceptions rank second at UCLA to the 19 of Kenny Easley, a former Seahawk.

White, who set a state record with 5,998 yards rushing at Crespi, rushed for 3,367 yards and 35 touchdowns in three seasons at Cal. He gained 1,069 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season.

“He has excellent vision and ability,” Coach Chuck Knox said.

White, the nephew of former USC Heisman Trophy winner Charles White, said he has never been a Ram fan--even when his uncle played with the team--but he was overjoyed to hear from them Sunday.

“I’m looking forward to coming down south again,” White said. “Mainly, it’s just a relief to get picked. The phone hasn’t been ringing off the hook. Nobody really had shown a whole lot of interest.”

Times staff writer John Weyler contributed to this story.