Washington Post: With Best, a 'Little Bush' Is Growing in Berkeley

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By Eric Prisbell

After witnessing former Southern California star Reggie Bush terrorize opposing teams for three seasons earlier this decade, fans of another Pacific-10 Conference school, California, feel they may finally have their own spellbinding running back in Jahvid Best, a diminutive and speedy sophomore who for years has worn the nickname "Little Bush."

Before Best finished his sophomore year of high school, observers compared Best to his idol from USC. Before Best played a down of college football, a California teammate likened Best to Bush. And before Best has completed one fully healthy season of college football, writers already have mentioned him as a dark-horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy, the award Bush won in 2005.  "They move the same, they make people miss the same," California quarterback Kevin Riley said. "Every chance they touch the ball, there is a chance for a big play. Sprint-wise, I think Jahvid might be faster."  In college football circles, linking any player with Bush, one of the most dynamic college players in recent history, often borders on gridiron sacrilege. But the Golden Bears and even opponents have shown little hesitation in praising Best, whose two-game performance this season rivals any playmaker nationwide.  Said Maryland free safety Antwine Perez, "He is electric."  Entering Saturday's game at Maryland, Best has 311 rushing yards, nine less than Maryland's Da'Rel Scott, who is tied for fourth nationally in rushing yards per game. With the 5-foot-10, 193-pound Best, breakaway speed has been most impressive. He rushed for 200 yards on 14 carries in Saturday's 66-3 victory at Washington State, scoring an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the game and an 86-yard touchdown on his final carry.

"I am not surprised," Cal Coach Jeff Tedford said. "You see it every day in practice."  Said California fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou, "When he runs through that hole, he is not going to get caught."  At times, he leaves his teammates and coaches in awe. "There have been a couple times where I am supposed to do something on the field and I get caught up looking at him," Riley said. "He does special things. You see him break some run and say, 'I just wish I could do that.' He is fun to watch because you don't know what will happen."

Best won the 2007 California high school state championship in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.31 seconds and also finished second in the 200 at 20.65. Chad Nightingale, Best's former football coach at Salesian High in Richmond, Calif., regales callers with stories about Best's first high school carry, a 67-yard touchdown run, and his dominant senior season, in which he had 20 plays of more than 50 yards and finished with 3,325 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns.

Initially, Nightingale said, elite schools showed tepid interest in Best because of his stature (5-7, 135 pounds as a high school freshman). But by his senior year, Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis showed up in the parking lot, Nightingale said, and USC's Pete Carroll and Oregon's Mike Bellotti showed interest. Nightingale said Florida offered a scholarship without ever talking to Best.  Nightingale knew Best still was under the radar because, in high school, he never needed to reach maximum speed to outrun defenders to the end zone. During Best's recruitment, Nightingale told Tedford and running backs coach Ron Gould: "From Day One, Best will shock you because he is so much faster than you think he is. Do you think he can beat [former California wide receiver] DeSean Jackson in the 100 meters? He can beat DeSean by 10 meters. If you give him an inch, it's a touchdown."

As a freshman, Best had a 64-yard touchdown run against Colorado State and ranked second in the Pac-10 at 27 yards per kickoff return. He was just becoming acclimated with the offense when he suffered a hip injury against USC and missed the final three games. Best worried whether he would regain his speed.

"When it first happened, I didn't know how it was going to react to me running again," Best said. "There were so many questions. After going through rehab, two months after the injury, getting out there and exercising again I felt pretty good. Those questions just got dropped and I felt it was going to get back to where it is right now."

Aside from Best's speed, the concern for Maryland is that Best is not just a running back. Said Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen: "You see him in the backfield, you see him go in motion. They will throw him the ball on screens, they will try to get him isolated on a linebacker and go deep. They will move him around and get him matched against the best guy they possibly can."

Friedgen said California uses Best a lot like USC used Bush, the player Best most studies. In high school, Best taped Bush's USC games and still watches them occasionally. On Sundays, watching Bush's New Orleans Saints has become appointment television.  But regardless of how scintillating his season has been so far, Best is certain that "even now, I don't put my name in the same sentence as his."