REPLACING REGGIE IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN ONE PLAYER TO FILL BUSH'S CLEATS.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF  Staff Writer

Early in training camp, USC coaches talked about using three or four players at different positions to fill the role of Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

Then again, another possibility is that no players will replace Bush.

``We really haven't found guys to do the other stuff Reggie did yet,'' offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said. ``Sometimes you don't end up finding it.''

Whatever else Bush brought USC last season, his ability to turn a game on a single play gave the Trojans the ability to instantly break an opponents' morale. Bush produced 36 plays of more than 20 yards and scored touchdowns on 11 of those plays.

Tailback LenDale White added 12 plays of 20 or more yards and scored four touchdowns. That quick-strike capacity is something the Trojans need to replace if they are going to remain among the nation's elite.

There's no shortage of candidates, with freshman tailbacks C.J. Gable, Emmanuel Moody and Stafon Johnson showing glimpses in scrimmages. Another freshman, wide receiver Travon Patterson, is only 5-foot-8 but probably the quickest player on the team and could be used like Bush on pass plays.

They all will audition to replace Bush's and White's big-play capacity, but they remain freshmen. Even Bush and White required three or four games before showing their talent.

``I'm anxious to see what happens with C.J., Emmanuel and Stafon. They had a lot of plays that turned into big plays so far,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``The other thing is the use of Travon. He's the fastest player since Reggie we've had on the field.''

There are also two veterans who want to assert their role as leaders: wide receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith.

Jarrett caught 19 passes of more than 20 yards last season for seven touchdowns while Smith had 16 and two touchdowns.

``I definitely put myself in there to make big plays and Dwayne, too,'' Smith said. ``On the biggest stage, we've made big-time plays. The coaches know that.''

But that was with Matt Leinart throwing the passes. This year, John David Booty will be a first-year starter. But Booty is confident his receivers will continue to be dangerous targets, even though Jarrett and Smith were limited in training camp by injuries.

``It's so much easier when they are out there practicing,'' Booty said. ``I think we can really be effective, because we have the best receivers in the nation without a doubt.''

So far, big plays have not been a staple of the scrimmages although Jarrett has missed most of them and Smith was limited with bruised ribs. But Smith said everything changes once the season starts.

``I'm ready to do it. If you know how to get into the right position, it all takes care of itself,'' he said.

Early in camp, Patterson was a candidate to emulate Bush's role, at least as a receiver. He caught 11 passes for 153 yards with a long of 30 in scrimmages.

But it's asking a lot to expect him to replace several aspects of Bush's game.

``You just try to replace Reggie with a number of different people,'' Kiffin said. ``(Patterson's) a legit fast guy. We haven't had that the past five years.''

Patterson said he doesn't know if he's the fastest wide receiver, but he enjoys the idea.

``I'm not sure about that, but I'm trying to act like it,'' Patterson said.

Another candidate is Moody, who received less notoriety than Johnson from recruiting services but is probably most similar to Bush. Inside the program, some think Moody has the most long-term potential of the freshman tailbacks.

``Moody reminds me of a young Reggie with the things he does,'' Smith said. ``When you look at the film, he explodes through the line. I see Moody make huge plays and long runs. He's the most like Reggie.''

One of Moody's liabilities, at this early stage, is as a receiver. But that is precisely why no one player can replace Bush or White.

Gable, a Sylmar graduate, will probably start the Arkansas game and has adopted a slashing style that served him well in scrimmages. He broke a 24-yard touchdown run against the first-team defense in last Sunday's scrimmage, the best play of the night.

``C.J. Gable has a chance to break some plays,'' Kiffin said. ``Every freshman is different, but he definitely is explosive.''

Gable's remained low-key about starting but averaged 8.2 yards per carry in three scrimmages.

``I don't know but I'm ready to try,'' Gable said. ``I want to show everyone what I can do.''

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

5 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) SMITH

(2 -- color) JARRETT

(3) USC quarterback John David Booty won't have Reggie Bush or LenDale White to hand off to this season.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

(4 -- color) GONE TO NEW ORLEANS (Reggie Bush)

Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

(5 -- color) GABLE

Box:

BIG-PLAY OFFENSE