Devin Bush with Ahmir Mitchell
Name: Devin Bush, Jr.
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 232 lbs.
High school: Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #10
Last year: Bush was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 67 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Final TTB Rating: 85
Bush, who is the son of former Florida State and NFL safety Devin Bush, was a tough pull from the state of Florida. Michigan recruited him very hard once the new staff was hired, and that pushed them ahead of the pack. The Wolverines also went after a few of his teammates, including safety Josh Metellus and linebacker Devin Gil, both of whom committed in June. Bush held off until December, even though it seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would join his teammates in Ann Arbor. The trio of high school teammates, coached by Devin Bush, Sr., won a state championship before Devin, Jr. enrolled at Michigan in January. He also played in the Under Armour All-American Game and was named First Team All-State in Florida’s 8A class both his junior and senior seasons.
I know some people have doubts about Bush because he’s a freshman and he’s short, but I like him. He moves well for being short and a bit stocky, and I think he’s the type of linebacker who can play both against run-heavy teams and spread teams. Linebacker is a position that needs rotation, and Bush – who was playing WILL in the spring – should be the next guy in the game behind the starters. The Wolverines are somewhat thin at the two inside linebacker positions, which makes Bush a key backup. If he can’t play, then you’re looking at less talented freshmen or a guy who has received zero practice buzz like Jared Wangler. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do over the next four years.
Prediction: Backup inside linebacker
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Webb keeps insisting that Bush is just a hair behind McCray at Will, so it sounds like he made a nice adjustment to the college game this spring. Considering the mental challenges of playing LB at this level, looking competent at all is a nice sign for an early enrollee. Bush strikes me as a more explosive version of Desmond Morgan. Bush should play a fair amount. Even if McCray is the real deal, he does not look fit enough to play a full game of snaps as of the spring scrimmage.
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I’m not too worried about Bush. I think he’s our third best inside linebacker right now, and he might even be better than McCray in some situations. I don’t think I would be too concerned if Bush were starting at WILL and one of McCray/Gedeon were starting at MIKE. I would get a little uncomfortable if the #4 ILB has to come in and take crunch-time snaps. I hope we can stay healthy.
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Scary to be so reliant on a true freshman. His recruiting profile gives me reason to be hopeful but still… beyond Gedeon/McCray/Furbush we don’t have any true LBs that are anywhere near proven. The recently announced position-switches to LB aren’t too encouraging either.
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Why is it scary? Lee and McMillan were great for OSU as freshmen. Lee was an RS FR, but since he was hurt his true FR year, it’s not like he got the full benefit of the redshirt.
Sometimes our expectations of roster stability are totally unrealistic. You’re not going to have upperclassmen throughout your entire 2-deep. A freshman is going to have to play a real role here or there. And it’s not like this is a generic 3-star who’s being asked to start; this is a highly sought after guy who has an upperclassman ahead of him. Eager to see him out there.
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Really good freshman are rare. Ones that aren’t 5-star recruits (like McMillan) even moreso.
I agree that it’s unrealistic to expect a veteran 2-deep across the board, but you want freshman to earn their playing time. Having only 3 real LBs with any on-field experience isn’t great.
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We definitely lack experience. Going back a few years, Michigan had 3-star Desmond Morgan start at WILL linebacker for a chunk of 2011 when we went 11-2. He wasn’t great, but he was solid enough to have a good defense and win 11 games. Regardless of which freshman plays most, he’s going to have to beat out other guys (Bush, Gil, Mbem-Bosse, etc.).
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Scary, maybe so.
But like it or not with last years class size and this years projected size we will be seeing a lot of F, RS, and underclassmen in the two deep. It will take a while for the classes to stabilize. Also, with the exception of a graduate transfer here and there, OL, and QB I don’t think we are going to see 4 yr and 5 yr players like we are accustomed to. Players will be expected to produce or move on even within the 4 year scholarship rules.
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Wasn’t advocating for red-shirts. I just don’t like to RELY on freshman. Michigan is an injury away from it. Give them a shot? Sure – but I’d prefer they had to earn their playing time.
This year M will probably play 4 freshman LBs just because they have to try to see what they have, in case of injury.
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Agree with first para. I don’t think anyone isn’t concerned with how thin we are or in getting some experience to put on the field for next year.
When you think of the blurring of what is defined as a LB in todays defenses you are probably correct in that 4 freshman will see some time at LB.
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OL and LB are the only 2 units on the team that are questions. OL has 3 5th year seniors, 4 returning starters, and a very proven coach. While LB has 1 returning rotation player and a rookie coach (under a new coordinator). Yikes.
BUT – there are 2 things that significantly mitigate worries at LB. 1. Peppers ability to either be an LB or obviate the need for one. 2. Brown and Mattison are proven veteran coaches who are around to help Partridge.
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Well, maybe three things..our LBs will be playing behind a very good Dline, and fewer plays will be getting to the second level.
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Certainly true to a degree, but I would argue it matters a lot less against tougher teams like MSU/OSU that will neutralize that advantage.
Last year our senior LBs looked fine when the DL was dominant. Not so much against better teams (which also happened when the DL depth was depleted).
I expect a few more screw-ups that lead to big plays this year. But Brown’s system seems to happily accept risk, so that’s probably going to be the case anyway.
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I was pumped to get Bush and remain so. He looks real twitchy for such a thickly built kid, he keeps his hips and his feet right up under him, picks through the trash nicely, gets there now when there is no picking to be done and then thumps you when he arrives. Barring injury, I can see this kid being All Big at some level as a junior and make Butkus lists as a senior.
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I agree. I think his NFL potential might be limited because he’s 5’11”, but he’s more athletic than most of the guys we’ve been recruiting in recent years while still playing tough.
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