The Next Reggie Bush

The Next Reggie Bush. Is that a compliment...or a curse? 

For Joe McKnight, it has proven to be the latter. McKnight showed up on campus in Los Angeles as ESPN's #1 recruit in the class of 2007 with the sense of entitlement to prove it. McKnight's mere hype caused 2006 PAC 10 freshman of the year Emmanuel Moody to transfer. 

Over the next three years, McKnight's playing time increased while more established backs like Stafon Johnson, Allan Bradford, and C.J. Gable continued to continued to be frustrated that McKnight's high school highlight reel was forcing them to the bench. 

Reggie Bush did not receive nearly the hype coming in as a part of the class of 2003. But over the next three years, Bush and LenDale White combined for a gaudy 99 touchdowns. Bush rushed for 3,169 yards (25 touchdowns), caught 95 balls for 1,301 yards, scored four touchdowns off of special teams, and threw for a touchdown, while starting only 14 games.

Joe McKnight, in comparison rushed for 2,213 yards (13 scores), caught 66 passes for 542 yards (two touchdowns), and was more well-known for his SUV controversy, taking plays off, and his gnarly beard.  

For someone to come into an established program with such high expectations, not only for himself, but forced upon him, is not only a testament to the internet's power, but also to the program's success. Joe McKnight was supposed to be the second coming of Reggie Bush, no matter where he went. But he never met those expectations. His most successful season (1,014 yards and eight touchdowns) came nowhere near the Bush-like comparisons. 

McKnight left the running-back by committee approach of USC in favor of the NFL Draft. If anyone had guessed, back in 2007, about McKnight's status if he were to leave early, they would have guessed that he would have left just as Bush left USC: the hands down number one pick. As of right now, McKnight is ranked by most draft pundits as a second to third rounder, but will most likely fall past that due to his inability to be an every down back. "He's not physical between the tackles, he doesn't have breakaway speed, and limp off the field only to come back the next series," said Petros Papadakis for Fox Sports Net. "Honestly, he'd be lucky to catch on with a team as a change of pace back"