Bush Proves to Be Mover and a Shaker

USC hit in full pads for the first time, then hit the beach.

The Trojans boarded a bus for a pro beach volleyball tournament in Manhattan Beach on Sunday afternoon after freshman running back Reggie Bush spent three hours making defenders look like they were running in sand.

Bush repeatedly broke free for spectacular gains as the Trojans practiced as a full squad for the first time.

“He shocks me every day with something,� Coach Pete Carroll said. “He’s done some remarkable things with the ball.�

Bush, 6 feet and 190 pounds, rushed for 1,691 yards last season at Helix High in La Mesa. In 2002, he ran the 100 meters in track in 10.42 seconds, the fastest time in the state.

Bush displayed his speed during the first four days of split-squad workouts and said he was eager to test himself against veterans and the first-team defense Sunday.

“Before I came out to practice I felt like, ‘This is going to be a big challenge for me,’ � said Bush, who is nursing a shoulder bruise.

Bush sped through the line of scrimmage for several long gains against the first- and second-team defenses. Onlookers and teammates shouted when Bush caught a short pass while running toward the left sideline, then cut back across the field and eluded would-be tacklers on his way to a 30-yard touchdown against the second-team defense.

“It’s just the first day so I’ve got a long ways to go -- a lot of stuff to learn,� he said.

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Though sophomore Matt Leinart and junior Matt Cassel took the majority of snaps at quarterback during team drills, junior transfer Brandon Hance made perhaps his biggest impression to date after the coaching staff let him operate from the shotgun formation.

Hance played in a shotgun offense at Woodland Hills Taft High and at Purdue before enrolling at USC last fall. He had arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgeries and a bout of viral meningitis during the off-season, but looked sound for the first time while throwing accurately from the pocket and on the run.

“We thought we’d try to give him some of what he’s used to [to] see if he could show off his skills,� offensive coordinator Norm Chow said.

Freshman John David Booty sat out most of practice after suffering back spasms while warming up. Booty said his body might have been reacting to the numerous throws he made during the first four days of practice.

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Junior kicker Ryan Killeen said he welcomes the challenge from freshman walk-on Mario Danelo, who has made a “huge first impression,� according to Carroll.

“It helps to have someone always pushing you,� said Killeen, who made 16 of 23 field-goal attempts last season. “He’s a good kicker and a good player. I’ve got to look out, keep my job and keep performing.�

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Running back LenDale White did not participate in most team drills because of a wrist sprain.... Carroll said he was not concerned that starting tackle Jacob Rogers missed another day because of a foot injury. “If anybody can hold up his level of play and miss some time, Jake should be able to do that,� Carroll said.