I went to USC's practice Sunday morning to check out the Trojans on their first day in pads -- and after a few hours, something became pretty apparent to me: Reggie Bush is going to make a lot of tacklers look stupid this year. Either that, or he's gonna make me look stupid. Because after watching Bush cut and dash through the Trojan defense, I came away thinking this guy is the most exciting to player to enter college football since Michael Vick. Bush wasn't expected to overtake sophomore Hershel Dennis when the Trojans open at Auburn, but I'd be shocked if he didn't get a ton of work August 30. The kid is a natural and too good to keep on the bench. Bush, a freshman tailback from San Diego, was spectacular Sunday and this was against a USC defense that probably is one of the five most talented groups in the country. He made at least a half-dozen highlight-film quality runs, reversing field, leaving defenders grasping for air and hopelessly chasing a guy who runs a 10.4 100. Bush appears to be the rare track guy who plays even faster than he times. He makes his cuts virtually at top speed. "He does remarkable things with the ball," said coach Pete Carroll. Bush said Sunday's practice boosted his confidence, but cautioned, "It's just the first day so I've got a long ways to go -- a lot of stuff to learn." Still, with his remarkable vision and cutting ability, he looks like a perfect fit for the Trojans zone running game. "I think he has a good style for any offense," Carroll joked.

Tackling the problem
Want to hear something incredible? John Leake, Clemson's ridiculously explosive linebacker, had the fifth-best tackling season in Tiger history last year when he made 169 stops.

The incredible part? He didn't even know how to tackle.

Leake says he really just learned how to this offseason thanks to some tutoring from new Tiger LB coach David Blackwell. The former Pitt assistant was the same coach who helped make Gerald Hayes into one of the nation's premiere tacklers. Blackwell reviewed hours of film with Leake in the winter and showed him how he was just doing a lot of lunging.

"He taught me how to use my hips, to take one more step and trust my speed," says Leake. Not bad advice considering Leake, a guy who power cleans a team best 400 pounds, runs a 4.41 forty.

One other reason why Leake might make a run at the Butkus Award: he's gained 20 pounds and is up to a rock-solid 240.

The Chosen One
Miami's Kellen Winslow not only has added 10 more pounds of muscle to become a better blocker and handle the double- and triple-teams that obviously are headed his way, but also has refined his route-running, learning how to be more patient so he can set up linebackers better.

"Of all his talents, the quality that helps him the most is his competitiveness," says UM offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, a former 'Cane tight end himself. "A lot of people try and shy away from their weaknesses. He takes the bull by the horns and goes after them."

An improved Winslow -- up to 252 pounds -- even thinks a 100-catch season is possible. Oh, and how exactly did he get the nickname The Chosen One? "I gave it to myself, because I don't think anyone has my ability." The coaches at Ohio State won't argue.

Winslow smiles at the Heisman talk that's starting to surface. This speculation actually started outside the media though. One day a few weeks back, one of his buddies on the team, Curtis Justus, played out an entire season on NCAA 2004 and Winslow turned out to be the Heisman winner.

Did that make him think, 'Hey maybe a tight end can win it?' "I dunno," Winslow answered. "Maybe. But all I'm thinking about right now is winning our national title back."

Random Notes