Birmingham football gets 'Reggie Bush-LenDale White' effect with Dredon Fowles and Ronnell Hewitt

Fowles just became eligible after serving the transfer sit-out period, which gives the defending City champs a different look.

LAKE BALBOA, CALIFORNIA – When Birmingham Charter running backs Ronnell Hewitt and Dredon Fowles were asked about former USC standout Reggie Bush, they both nodded their head.

"Oh yea, of course," said Hewitt. "We know who that is."

What about LenDale White?

Hewitt and Fowles both shook their heads.

"Sorry, I don't know who that is," Fowles said snickering.

Birmingham coach Jim Rose overhead.

"Are you guys kidding me?" Rose yelled from a distance.

A sign of the times, or maybe, an example of how time flies. Hewitt was born in 2008.

Despite not knowing the dynamic running back duo of Reggie Bush and LenDale White for the USC Trojans from 2003 to 2005, Rose believes the lightning and thunder analogy fits perfectly for Birmingham's backfield with Fowles and Hewitt.

"Their skillsets are so different, it gives us two different looks other teams have to prepare for," Rose said. "It's like Reggie Bush and LenDale White."

Birmingham's Dredon Fowles (left) and Ronnell Hewitt are a running back duo coach Jim Rose says is like Reggie Bush and LenDale White / Tarek Fattal

Fowles, who just became eligible to play last week after serving a sit-out period for his transfer from El Camino Real, is the lightning.

"I'm more about speed. Everything I do is fast, and I don't think anyone can catch me," said Fowles, who mentioned he'll run track this spring and expects to run the 100-meter in low 11 seconds.

Hewitt is the bulldozer.

"I love to run through people," said Hewitt, a 200-pound sophomore. "I take pride in being a physical runner."

The Patriots will also have the services of former El Camino Real quarterback Javen Hall, who threw for 1,266 yards and eight TDs last year. He also ran for four TDs.

Birmingham, the three-time defending Open Division City champions, will take on Granada Hills (3-1-1) Friday night in what will likely provide the winner an inside track for the West Valley League title.

OTHER IMPACT TRANSFERS IN THE CITY

Narbonne can now play sophomore QB Jessi Williams, a transfer from Gardena Serra. The Gauchos saw Williams throw two TDs in his debut last week against Dominguez.

"He's a dynamic playmaker with a big arm," Narbonne coach Malcom Manuel said.

Narbonne (3-3) will travel to Carson (6-0) in a Marine League opener Thursday night at 7 p.m.

LA City Section Top 10 rankings

Cleveland (4-1) will start its new transfer QB Isaac Delgado on Friday night against Taft. Delgado transferred from Granada Hills.

Franklin (2-2-1) will get help up front with Village Christian transfer Robert Macias. 

El Camino Real (1-4) has a crop of transfers now eligible. Dayon Coulter is a wide receiver from Reseda and running back Nick Genovesi transferred from Calabasas. Javan Kaggwa (WR/DB) and Dustin Colin-Berrios (OL/DL) came from North Valley Military, which had its football program shut down after Week 1.