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USC's White declares for NFL draft

By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer
January 11, 2006

DENVER (AP) -- Southern Cal running back LenDale White declared himself eligible for the NFL draft Wednesday, saying he had accomplished everything he wanted to for the Trojans.

White said the decision was difficult. "I wouldn't say it was a slam dunk" to leave USC, he said.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior leaves USC as the school's career leader with 57 touchdowns. He had 541 carries for 3,159 yards in three seasons, during which the Trojans won two national championships.

He scored three touchdowns in USC's 41-38 Rose Bowl loss to Texas last week.

White, who is from Denver, said he consulted with his cousin, former Colorado point guard Chauncey Billups, now in the NBA. White said Billups told him to "go with your heart."

Fellow Trojans tailback Reggie Bush, who won the Heisman Trophy and will announce his plans Thursday in Los Angeles, offered his teammate the same advice.

As a USC fan, I am devastated by this news...

I know I wanted at least one of them backs to come back...Damn, our backfield is going to be devastated man, I don't think I can bear to watch...What if RB says he is staying as a result..?

Hey..! It could happen...!

I couldn't believe it also. I thought he'd stay back to try and win the Heisman. So how well is USC gonna do next year?

I say they gonna loose 2-3 games...Not gonna slip too far, they got some STUDS man...Pete can recruit his ass off, and being in hollywood...Shit, you know they using celebs to recruit them kids...That's why USC and Miami keep so much talent...

Not sure about Miami keeping so much talent these days... but USC will be okay. They still have Herschel Dennis, who actually started ahead of Bush and White in 2003 I think. And they'll have the usual ton of blue chip recruits. Still, hard to replace what we have to think are two NFL first rounders.

Bush has been hyped enough, but White is going to have a pretty good NFL career as well - 6'2, 235lbs with speed, albeit not Bush warp speed.

Are yall serious? with the bowl game he had? This was his time to go......I expected it, because like I said...I think White will be a better back right away in the pros than Bush will be.

I think White will have a longer career than Bush at least...