Transformers: Bush, Ginn, Breaston, Hester … so much speed, so much more—and so many of them at the same time

It's almost too delectable to imagine: Ted Ginn nearly went to Southern California.

Reggie Bush and Ted Ginn on the same team. In the same wide receiver rotation. Next to each other returning kicks.

Holy Mother of Pigskin.

"I think he was a lot more interested than people think," Bush says.

The two players, who have transformed college football with their speed and game-breaking ability, could have been an absolutely sick duo as teammates. A moment of silence and reflection, please, for Pac-10 defensive coordinators.

"I'm happy with the decision I made," Ginn says.

Yeah, well, his Big Ten opponents aren't. In this era of spread offenses 1and sharing the wealth, the growing trend in college football is toward the Transformers--speedy, athletic, dual-threat athletes who can play just about anywhere on the field and change the momentum of a game quicker than you can say 4.3 40.

They are wideouts and cornerbacks and tailbacks and return specialists. They take direct snaps as quarterbacks. There have been times over the years when the game produced a singular versatile game breaker--Tim Brown, Desmond Howard, Rocket Ismail--but never like this and never so many at once.

There's Ginn, Ohio State's splendid sophomore wideout.

There's Michigan wideout Steve Breaston, Miami cornerback/tailback/return man Devin Hester and Boston College wideout/cornerback Will Blackmon.

And, of course, there is Bush, who started this revolution three years ago when then-USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow decided he wanted to get Bush as many touches as possible in a game to take advantage of his speed. So Bush played tailback and wide receiver. He returned punts and kicks and tried more than a few times to convince Chow to let him take a couple of snaps under center.

Although playfully badgering Chow never worked, one thing was clear: Give Bush the ball--and watch out. That, more than anything, is the key to the Transformers. It's about finding and creating matchups to use their speed, about isolating them in space and letting them fake and juke and pinball their way to the end zone.

Or, as Washington State coach Bill Doba so eloquently puts it: "If you've got a linebacker covering (Bush), you might as well start singing their right song."

There always have been fast players in the game; they just haven't always been used in so many ways. Ohio State has more than 10 formations--and various plays from each--for Ginn. USC has used Bush at tailback, slot back and wide receiver. Hester has lined up at wideout, tailback and cornerback; he also returns punts and kicks and is a kick-blocking specialist.

"Any time he's not on the field," says Miami offensive tackle Eric Winston, "it's a wasted play."

But as with every fad, everyone eventually catches up. We're barely three seasons into the era of the Transformers, and already defenses have adjusted. Texas took Ginn out of the game two weeks ago by shadowing him with a safety and knocking him off his routes with physical play at the line of scrimmage. In what eventually could prove to be the biggest game of the regular season, Ginn had 7 yards of offense: He caught two passes, dropped two passes and had one carry for a loss of 2 yards.

Notre Dame used a similar philosophy against Breaston, rolling a safety on top of the coverage and allowing the cornerback to play aggressively at the point of attack. And Bush? No one has figured out that one yet.

Look on the bright side: Those defenses could have been trying to deal with Bush and Ginn at the same time.

Transformers, NFL style

Pro teams have more specialized roles for their players than college teams do, but they also know when to take advantage of special talents.

Brian Westbrook, Eagles. If a linebacker, safety or cornerback doesn't account for where he lines up on the field on every down--as a halfback, slot receiver or wideout--it's very difficult to stop the Eagles' offense, which tries to get him about 20 touches per game.

Antwaan Randle El, Steelers. The former Indiana option quarterback, though undersized (5-10, 192), has made the transition to starting NFL wide receiver. As Pittsburgh's new No. 2 opposite Hines Ward, Randle El is taking advantage of single coverage as a deep playmaker--and his elusiveness makes him equally daunting on reverses and screens. He also is one of the game's most dangerous punt returners.

Steve Smith, Panthers. Clearly back to his full blazing speed after breaking his leg in the opener last season, Smith again is pulling double duty as Jake Delhomme's No. 1 big-play target and the team's top punt returner. Like Randle El, Smith (5-9,185) is a challenge to bring down in the open field after the catch.

Terrence McGee, Bills. McGee got to the Pro Bowl last season on the strength of returning three kickoffs for TDs. but he also emerged as a solid cover corner, recording three interceptions. In addition to the plays he makes with--and on-the ball, he is a good tackler.