updated 5:12 a.m. ET Jan. 13, 2006

LOS ANGELES - Reggie Bush was ready to bolt.

The decision to pass up his senior season at Southern California was a difficult one, but the Heisman Trophy winner said he’s eager for a new challenge — such as playing for a losing team.

The Houston Texans, coming off a 2-14 record and without a winning season in their four-year existence, own the No. 1 pick in April’s draft. Bush could be their choice.

“If they were to pick me, I wouldn’t have a problem with that. I’m just excited to have an opportunity to make my mark at the next level, just to play for an NFL team,” Bush said Thursday at a news conference on campus.

“Whatever team I go to, whether it’s the Texans or another team, I hope I can build the same kind of relationships that I did with my teammates here.”

Bush is expected to be one of the first players taken in the draft along with teammate Matt Leinart and Texas quarterback Vince Young.

Houston general manager Charley Casserly likes the way things have shaped up for the Texans.

“All we can say is what has happened here with Reggie Bush and Vince Young declaring, with the addition of Matt Leinart among other players, is that you have a real strong top of the draft,” Casserly said. “I think it’s much stronger than it was a year ago. So what’s that mean?

“It means we’re going to get a real good player if we keep the pick, and if we trade the pick, we’ve got certainly a very valuable commodity to trade.”

NFL DRAFT Draft HQ: Round-by-round, pick-by-pick recap   Video: top storylines from draft Borges: Jets get top grade; Bears, Bills blow it Opinion: Broncos put Plummer in tough spot USC's Leinart, Bush, White all fall in draft Second day for converted quarterbacks Notebook: Bloom hopes to blossom Texans happy to draft 'special' player Saints swoop quickly to nab Bush at No. 2 Titans thrilled to take Young | End White's slide Fans cheer when Jets pick Ferguson at No. 4 Leinart has 'no regrets' | Fall to hurt colleges Vote: Who had best, worst drafts? Vote: Which QB will start first?

USC coach Pete Carroll, a former head coach with the New York Jets and New England Patriots, called Bush a “once-in-a-lifetime talent.”

“He’s a game-changer, with his speed, instincts, vision and competitiveness. He’s just so much fun to watch,” he said in a statement. “He’ll take that talent to the NFL and wow them there as a runner, receiver and as a returner. Now the Reggie Bush Show goes to Sundays, and I can’t wait to watch him.”

He was in Northern California to attend the funeral of the father of USC linebacker Rey Maualuga. Talatonu Maualuga died after a long illness.

College football How does Bush rank with other 'SC stars?

Bush, who turns 21 in March, made his announcement a day after running mate LenDale White made his decision to leave school early to go to the NFL. The elusive Bush had been the Trojans’ Lightning to the power-running White’s Thunder in the USC backfield.

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, offensive linemen Winston Justice and Fred Matua will also announce they're leaving school early. All-American safety Darnell Bing reportedly is leaning in that direction.

With Leinart out of eligibility and Bush and White leaving early, All-America receiver Dwayne Jarrett will be USC’s highest-profile offensive star going into next season.

Slide show   Mr. President Images of Heisman winner Reggie Bush's stellar season for USC

Jarrett said it’s hard to see Bush go.

“But he has nothing else to prove in college football,” Jarrett said. “And I know he is going to do well up there (in the NFL).”

The 6-foot, 200-pounder Bush, from the San Diego suburb of Spring Valley, had 1,740 yards rushing and 2,890 all-purpose yards this season for the Trojans, denied an unprecedented third straight national title by a 41-38 loss to Texas in the Rose Bowl last week.

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