Keno Walter-White is used to chasing after Reggie Bush.
As a track star in San Diego, Walter-White would often race the USC lightning-quick running back during their high school days.
"Reggie's got phenomenal speed," Walter-White said. "Him and my younger brother would usually go back and forth winning, and I was always that third guy. I was right there, but I never did beat him."
Walter-White will get another chance to beat Bush on Saturday - but this time it will be on the gridiron as a cornerback for ASU.
The old rivals may indeed meet up on a play, but Walter-White will be looking for help from his 10 defensive counterparts to harness the elusive back.
"I would never sit here and say, 'Oh, one-on-one I just can't wait to smack Reggie Bush,'" Walter-White said. "He's one of the next great ones. He's like the Michael Vick's and the Barry Sanders'."
Along with Bush, Walter-White will have his hands full with USC receivers Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett. The junior college transfer got a dose of one of the nation's top wideouts in Oregon State's Mike Hass last week, and the talent level won't be dropping this week.
The competition is something he fully expected when signing on with ASU.
"This is one of the number-one passing conferences in the country, so why not (come here and) be challenged?" Walter-White said.
Jarrett could pose quite the test, as the 6-foot-5-inch receiver has five inches on Walter-White. But again, the track skills should come in handy.
"When it comes to jump ball situations, I never really worry about it because I've been high-jumping seven feet," Walter-White said.
While Walter-White clearly has the physical skills, his ability to learn the intricacies of playing corner has elevated him to the starting lineup in a hurry.
"He wants to learn, he cares about it," defensive backs coach Mark Carrier said. "He's always looking to get extra time in."
With veterans Josh Golden and R.J. Oliver on the squad, Walter-White's playing time seemed like it would be scarce when coming in. But Oliver's slow recovery from an injury opened the door, and Walter-White was quick to take advantage.
ASU coach Dirk Koetter has been fast to praise him.
"Keno has been getting better and better every week," Koetter said. "Keno got burned a couple times early (against Hass and Oregon State), but Keno came back and made two really nice breakups over the middle and had a couple big hits."
Williams back in big way
Two weeks ago, senior linebacker Jamar Williams was suspended for the Northwestern game for breaking an unspecified team rule. It was not something wanted from Williams, who Koetter referred to as the quarterback of the defense.
But against Oregon State, Williams rebounded with 13 tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. The performance warranted him Pac-10 Player of the Week honors.
"After sitting out a week, it was like sitting out a year," Williams said. "I never want to experience that again. Sometimes you just take for granted what you got. Now I'm going to take every game like it's my last."
Just in time
After sitting out the past two games, sophomore tight end Zach Miller is back and should be ready for USC. Junior defensive end Kyle Caldwell played against the Beavers, and Koetter said he looked healthy in the team's practice on Sunday.
Walter-White, who injured his knee Saturday, is practicing and should play.
With the exception of right guard Zach Krula, who is out for the year, ASU is as close to full strength as it's been all year.
Extra Point
Jamarr Robinson, a highly touted linebacker recruit from Fairfield, Calif., has verbally committed to ASU, according to the Daily (Calif.) Republic.
"It seemed everything's going good for them, and I want to be a part of that," Robinson told the paper.
Reach the reporter at kyle.odegard@asu.edu.
