Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush: Heisman winner, Super Bowl champion, and one of college football's all-time greats.

Reginald Alfred Bush II (born March 2, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning consensus All-American honors twice and winning the 2005 Heisman Trophy. Bush is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football players of all time. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints second overall in the 2006 NFL draft.

Bush was named an All-Pro punt returner in 2008 and helped the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV in 2010. He also played for the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers before retiring from professional football in 2017. Bush later worked as a college football analyst for Fox Sports. Allegations that he received improper benefits with USC in 2004 were central to an NCAA investigation of the USC football program that led to severe sanctions against the school, including a two-year postseason ban and the vacating of the 2004 national championship.

Bush voluntarily forfeited his Heisman Trophy in 2010 during the scandal, but it was reinstated 14 years later during the NCAA rule changes.

Quick Facts

Position: Running back
Born: 2 March 1985
Birthplace: Spring Valley, California, U.S.
High school: Helix (La Mesa, California)
College: USC (2003–2005)
Draft year: 2006
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 2

Facts from the source article.

Background

Bush was born in 1985 in Spring Valley in San Diego County, California, and named after his biological father, Reginald Sr. He was a running back at Helix High School in La Mesa, California. While at Helix, he played with 2004 Heisman Trophy finalist and first overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft Alex Smith. During his prep career with the Helix Highlanders, he won the prestigious Silver Pigskin trophy awarded by KUSI's Prep Pigskin Report. Smith and Bush were later finalists for the 2004 Heisman, making it the first time a high school had two finalists at the same ceremony.

He played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Bush was listed as the No. 1 running back in the nation in 2003. Bush was also a track star at Helix, placing second (10.72) -1.7m in the 2002 CIF California State Meet 100 meters final and posting bests of 10.42 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.06 seconds in the 200 meters. He placed second in the boys' 50 meters, clocking at 5.85 at the 2003 Los Angeles Invitational Indoor Meet.

Did You Know?

Bush and Matt Leinart became the first pair of Heisman Trophy winners to play together for the same team in a single game, against the Longhorns in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
Bush set the Pac-10 record for all-purpose yards in a game, with 513 against Fresno State on November 19, 2005.
Bush was featured on the cover of NCAA Football 2007, released on July 18, 2006.