Reggie Bush, Lendale White Make Athlon Sports’ List of Top Pac-12 BCS Running Backs

Dec 16, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush (21) during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

USC is no stranger to being called “running back U” and if Athlon Sports’ list of the top Pac-12 running backs of the BCS era is to be believed, the tag has plenty of merit.

Here’s what they had to say about their top selection:

"433 att., 3,169 yds, 25 TDs, 95 rec., 1,301 yds, 13 TDs, 2,081 ret. yds, 3 TDs 1. Reggie Bush, USC (2003-05) Stats: The superstar recruit from La Mesa (Calif.) Helix brought a unique skill set to the evolving running back position. Sort of a first of his kind, the all-purpose talent was unstoppable with the ball in his hands. He played a prominent role on the 2003 national championship team before providing 908 yards rushing, 509 yards receiving, nearly 1,000 return yards and 15 total touchdowns during USC’s 2004 romp to a second national title. He exploded as a junior, rushing for 1,740 yards on a ridiculous 8.7 yards per carry and scoring 19 total touchdowns, coming up just short of his third national title. He earned his second consecutive Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year award as well as the Doak Walker, Walter Camp and Heisman Trophy. His career 7.3 per carry average is fourth all-time and his legacy is only somewhat tarnished by the scandal that put USC on probation and caused him to “return” his Heisman."

Bush wasn’t the only Trojan to make the list. His teammate during Pete Carroll’s golden age, Lendale White, also made his way onto the list (perhaps slightly underrated at #12 considering his place in the Pac-12 record books).

"Stats: 541 att., 3,159 yds, 52 TDs, 31 rec., 331 yds, 5 TDs 12. LenDale White, USC (2003-05) The round mound of touchdown played alongside Reggie Bush in one of the best backfields in college football history. White is USC’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns and is third all-time in league history with 52. He played on two national title winners and a third that lost in the BCS title game before getting taken in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft."

Ahead of White are UCLA backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Jonathan Franklin as well as Stepfan Taylor of Stanford.

Do you agree with their rankings? The full list is below.

1. Reggie Bush, USC (2003-05)

2. LaMichael James, Oregon (2009-11)

3. Steven Jackson, Oregon State (2000-03)

4. Toby Gerhart, Stanford (2006-09)

5. Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona (2011-13)

6. Ken Simonton, Oregon State (1998-01)

7. Marshawn Lynch, Cal (2004-06)

8. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State (2008-10)

9. Maurice Jones-Drew, UCLA (2003-05)

10. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford (2009-12)

11. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA (2009-12)

12. LenDale White, USC (2003-05)

13. Kenjon Barner, Oregon (2009-12)

14. J.J. Arrington, Cal (2003-04)

15. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon (2005-07)

16. Yvenson Bernard, Oregon State (2004-07)

17. Trung Candidate, Arizona (1996-99)

18. Bishop Sankey, Washington (2011-13)

19. Jahvid Best, Cal (2007-09)

20. Chris Polk, Washington (2009-11)

21. DeShaun Foster, UCLA (1998-01)

22. De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon (2011-13)

23. Jerome Harrison, Washington State (2004-05)

24. Justin Forsett, Cal (2004-07)

25. Tyler Gaffney, Stanford (2009-13)