The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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COMMITMENT PROFILE There's a good chance Bush will have to be ready early, since he's likely in line for early playing time. Only senior Ben Gedeon returns with any significant game experience next fall, and other linebacker spots will be up for grabs. Bush's opportunity to prepare physically in the weight room and mentally with a semester of school — and more importantly, growing familiar with the playbook through a session of spring ball — gives him a chance to make huge contributions as a true freshman. According to Rivals.com Southeast recruiting analyst Rob Cassidy, that's something he can handle. "When people refer to Bush as un- dersized, it's more about his limited length than his thickness," Cassidy said. "As far as that goes, he's built to play early. Bush is also assignment- sound and has been coached well by his father at the high school level. If he picks up the playbook quickly, he could be ready to see some action in year one." Bush participated in the Under Armour All-America Game at the conclusion of his senior year, making three total tackles for a Team High- light defense that led a 27-0 shut- out over Team Armour. On the heels of a state title win over Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola just a few weeks ear- lier, Bush heads to Ann Arbor plenty familiar with winning. That's a family tradition he'll try to carry down from his father, who won ACC championships at Florida State in all three of his years as a Seminole from 1992-94, including a national championship in 1993, plus a Super Bowl title with the St. Louis Rams in 2000. — Tim Sullivan FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Devin Bush has very good speed for the linebacker position, and it's highlighted by his instincts and quickness. Those traits allow him to be in the right place at the right time not just because he's fast enough to get there, but smart enough to know where he needs to be. He can cover the pass and the run, and recover even in the rare event he misses a read. Bush is also a very big hitter, especially for a player that is slightly undersized at his position. He packs a punch whether blitzing the quarterback, filling holes in the run game, or making receivers think twice about going over the middle. Areas Of Improvement: Thanks to a lack of prototypical height, Bush will have to work to make sure he gets the most out of his frame and build physi‑ cally. He's not going to get much taller (his dad, Devin Sr., maxed out at 6‑0), so he'll have to make up for it with peak physical condition. Michigan Player Comparison: Ian Gold (1996‑99) was a shorter linebacker who relied on instincts and athleticism to become an All‑Big Ten player (1999) and NFL Pro Bowler (2001). Bush has a very similar skill set. — Analysis from TheWolverine.com