PSR Showdown
Who do you take with the first pick in the NFL Draft?

Reggie Bush
By Rick Peltier
Fox 7 WTVW
Evansville, IN

In the election process known as the NFL Draft, one candidate stands out above the rest. The Houston Texans are expected to "Vote for Bush" with the overall number-one pick on April 29th. That's Reggie Bush, not George W. Bush. But, Reggie has more in common with our nation's leader than you may think.

First, there's his nickname: "The President."

Second, President Bush grew-up in Houston, Texas. Reggie Bush will grow up as an NFL player in Houston. Reggie even majored in political science at Southern California. This doesn't make him qualified to run the country, but his football skills make him qualified to run the Texans' offense.

Bush is one of the most electrifying college football players to ever grace the field; a threat to score every time his number was called. In his career, No. 5 averaged a touchdown every 15 times he touched the ball.

Nobody in the 2006 draft, or in the past 10 drafts, can compete with his speed. Bush runs through the tackles quicker than a hiccup. He's like a magician-now you see him, now you don't. He can run full speed, come to a complete stop and continue without missing a beat.

This was never more evident than in Southern Cal's win over Fresno State last November. He was a one-man highlight reel, compiling a PAC-10 record 514 all-purpose yards; 294 on the ground. He also produced what I'll remember as the play of the year in college football. With his Trojans clinging to a seven point lead late in the 3rd quarter, the USC superman galloped from the 50 yard line to the Bulldogs' 25, stopped in his tracks near the left sideline-posed for pictures, got a few cheerleaders' phone numbers, solved a Rubix cube-changed directions and then turned the jets back on for the final 25 yards. I was watching the game on TV and the 50 replays shown afterwards got sweeter and sweeter with every angle. He could have earned the Heisman Trophy on that play alone.

Bush is the front-runner in this year's election. Go ahead, catch him if you can. The Texans will on April 29th.

Rick Peltier is a sportscaster for Fox 7 WTVW in Evansville, IN. He is originally from Jeanette, PA.

Vince Young
By Andrew Mason
Herald-Mail
Hagerstown, MD

It's quite clear to everyone that Reggie Bush can run with the football and Matt Leinart can pass it.

Together, the Heisman Trophy twins gave Southern California the best 1-2 punch in all of college football the last two seasons.

But they should go 2-3 in the upcoming NFL Draft because former Texas Longhorns quarterback Vince Young can deliver the knockout blow. Young can run, pass and affect a football game in more ways than either Bush or Leinart - or both of them combined, as we learned in January.

Wonderlic, Wonderschmic.

The Super Bowl-sized Rose Bowl was the test of all job-aptitude tests. And Young did more than just pass (30-for-40, 267 yards, 0 INTs) against then-No. 1 USC. He also rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner on fourth down with 19 seconds left as Texas stunned the two-time defending national champions, 41-38.

Young received an A+ on his quarterbacking report card from everyone in America that night.

But can he make the grade in the NFL? Ask the Trojans. At least a dozen of them are about to be drafted into the league.

Can he handle the pressure? He was 30-2 as a starter at Texas, leading fourth-quarter comebacks for six of those victories. How would Young fit in with the Houston Texans, who have the first pick in the draft? Probably quite well. He's from Houston, and already a hometown hero. The real risk for the Texans is Young's potential to be wildly successful for another city and team.

But what about his unorthodox passing delivery? Maybe that's why he only completed 65 percent of his passes last season. There's room for improvement, and that's scary.

Young is the only player in NCAA history to pass for more than 2,500 yards and rush for more than 1,000 in the same season. He stole the spotlight from Bush and Leinart in their own backyard in Pasadena, on what was perhaps the grandest stage in college football history, and there's no reason to think he won't continue to outshine them as a professional.

Andrew Mason is the assistant sports editor at the Herald-Mail in Hagerstown, MD.