BECOMING THE CHOSEN TWO

Reggie Bush and LenDale White say they have not spoken to each other about it.

They refuse to raise the issue, even kiddingly, with their coaches.

But the USC running backs acknowledged that they watched last April when Ronnie Brown and Carnell “Cadillac” Williams of Auburn were chosen among the first five picks in the NFL draft. It was only the fourth time since 1970 that running backs from the same school were chosen in the first round.

Bush said the feat could be repeated. Soon.

“We’re kind of similar,” Bush said.

White, as is his wont, had a stronger opinion.

“Me and Reggie are better than Ronnie and Cadillac,” he said. “I mean, we proved it last year.”

Bush, a 2005 Heisman Trophy finalist, and White, the Trojans’ leading rusher the last two years, are draft-eligible juniors who have been publicly content to share playing time and carries as the Trojans rolled to consecutive national titles. They insist that winning, rather than individual glory and future paydays, remains their overriding concern as USC attempts to become the first school to win three titles in a row.

White said USC coaches and NFL scouts “know we both can be every-down backs. It’s our, unfortunately, great situation. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Neither would USC Coach Pete Carroll, who loves the brutish running style White provides and the speed and flash supplied by Bush. When USC opens its season on Sept. 3 at Hawaii, Carroll said there would be no formula for the way White and multipurpose-whiz Bush are integrated into an offense that also features Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart and one of the top receiving corps in college football.

“We do it the way it feels right for the game plan and what’s going on,” Carroll said. “We’re apt to adjust right in the middle of a game to go one way or the other depending on what’s happening.”

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who succeeds Norm Chow as the Trojans’ play caller during games, said Bush and White each does some things better than the other. He said the number of times each carried the ball would have little bearing on their draft status in 2006 or 2007.

“They don’t need to see you run the ball 350 times,” Kiffin, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, said of NFL scouts. “If you can run the ball 100 times in a year that’s plenty. You’re going to make your money by the times you run, the workout that you have and your film.”

Brown and Williams hit the NFL goldmine after passing up the opportunity to turn pro after their junior seasons. But unlike Bush and White, neither had won a national title, let alone two.

Carroll knows that the NFL is beckoning Bush, White and other draft-eligible juniors such as tackle Winston Justice and safety Darnell Bing. He addressed the issue in one of the Trojans’ first training camp meetings last week, telling his players that former receiver Mike Williams, defensive lineman Kenechi Udeze and linebacker Lofa Tatupu cost themselves millions of dollars by leaving school before exhausting their eligibility.

This season, the Trojans will try to extend their 22-game winning streak with a tailback corps that features not only Bush and White but also redshirt sophomore Desmond Reed.

“How they can keep all three of those running backs happy, I’ll never know,” Washington State Coach Bill Doba said.

Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville has called Carnell Williams, Brown and quarterback Jason Campbell the best backfield in college football in 50 years.

Brown handled the ball 193 times and produced 1,226 yards. He was selected by Miami with the second pick but is unsigned, although the Dolphins have reportedly offered him a five-year deal that guarantees him $19.5 million. Williams, like Bush also a kick returner, handled the ball 290 times and produced 1,718 all-purpose yards. He was chosen fifth by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and signed a contract worth a guaranteed $13.115 million over five years.

Campbell was chosen 25th by the Washington Redskins after passing for 2,700 yards and guiding the Tigers to a 13-0 record as a senior.

“You have to be selfless. In our society today you don’t find that much,” said Auburn running backs coach Eddie Gran.

Bush handled the ball 232 times and generated 2,330 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

Bush says he does not focus on the number of times he gets the ball or the number of touchdowns he scores. He cites New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady as a model.

“He doesn’t put up big, great numbers but they win every game and that’s the thing that’s going to make him one of the greatest quarterbacks,” he said.

Still, Bush admits to occasional frustration over not being able to show all of his talent.

“That’s just how I am -- a competitor,” said Bush, who added seven pounds of muscle in the off-season and reported to camp at 202 pounds. “Obviously, a player is going to want the ball. You just have to remain focused, remain humble, and know your chance is going to come.”

Bush finished fifth in Heisman balloting last year. After the trophy ceremony in New York he told reporters he would be back there in 2005, ostensibly to take one home with his name on it.

Asked last week if this season was his time to shine, he said: “I really think it is. I think the time is now.”

So does White, who handled the ball 214 times last season, rushing for 1,103 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns. He reported to training camp weighing 228 pounds, seven less than his listed playing weight.

“I’m faster,” said White, who battled ankle and back injuries last season. “I feel like I can cut better. I’m lighter on my feet and feel like I can do more now.”

Todd McNair, USC’s running backs coach, said there was no need for him to discuss the 2005 NFL draft -- or next year’s -- with Bush and White because he knows they saw what happened to the Auburn running backs.

“I don’t have to mention it because I don’t have any concerns,” McNair said. “I know that they see. They know it can happen.”

Bush said he would evaluate his situation after the season. So did White.

“I don’t know if I’ll be the first running back or the 10th running back,” White said. “I just know at the end of the season, I’ve got to sit down with my family and coaches and see what is best for me.

“If the best is staying around, that’s what I’ll do. But if the best for me is going, then that’s what I’ll do.”

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Mirror images

Comparing LenDale White and Reggie Bush’s rushing numbers last season to those of Auburn’s Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams:

*--* Player Att. Yds. Avg. TD YdsPG LenDale White 203 1,103 5.4 15 84.8 Reggie Bush 143 908 6.3 6 69.8 Totals 346 2,011 5.8 21 154.6 Player Att. Yds. Avg. TD YdsPG Carnell Williams 239 1,165 4.9 12 89.6 Ronnie Brown 153 913 6.0 8 76.1 Totals 392 2,078 5.3 20 165.7

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Los Angeles Times