The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
2016 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE six shutouts. Bush Jr. was a leader on that unit. "People are going to see a guy that's going to come in and play the game with a lot of passion," Bush Sr. said of his son. "They'll see a guy who's going to expect to win. He's going to go out and compete hard. He'll make plays all over the field from sideline to sideline and end zone to end zone. He can flat out run and change directions very well. "He's going to have a good grasp of how to play within a scheme, too. He'll be able to play smart and fast. He's also humble and wants to get better. He wants to be coached and wants to be coached hard." Bush Jr. was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and was rated as the No. 7 inside linebacker and No. 182 prospect nationally by Ri- vals.com. At 6-0, 225 pounds he's a bit undersized, but was still considered the No. 26 player in the talent-rich state of Florida. As an early enrollee, and with play- ing time available at linebacker, Bush Jr. is preparing to contribute as a true freshman. "I'm just getting comfortable with the system and how things work," he said. "I'm going into the workouts ev- ery day with a focus on playing, and I'm sticking to my plan. "I'm just getting ready. I see a huge opportunity for myself. I plan on go- ing day by day and creating my own opportunity." Harbaugh is known for creating a lot of competition in practice in order to find the best player come game day. Bush Jr. already recognizes the ap- proach and is used to it from the way his father ran things in high school. "Iron is going to sharpen iron," he said. "If you have competition all over the field and at every position, you have no choice but to work. If you slip up one time that could be your one op- portunity that you've lost." Bush Jr.'s best friend, Gil, a three-star safety who is actually slated to play linebacker in college, couldn't be more excited for the opportunity he has in Ann Arbor. As a 6-1, 204-pounder, Gil played in the secondary and in the box, but now that he's up to 225 pounds, he's coming in as a true linebacker. "I'm just trying to make every play I can and eventually be an All-Amer- ican," Gil said. "If we're all trying to be great then overall our team will be great. There's no other way to be. "I'm very excited because the way that some of our other recruits are talk- ing, we're expecting a national title. That's definitely what we're shoot- ing for, and I'm confident that's what we're going to get." Bush Sr. has known Gil since he was a small boy and loves everything about him — from the way he prepares to the way he plays to how he carries himself off the field. "Gil and Devin have been playing together since they were about 6 or 7 years old, so they're like brothers," the coach said. "Gil is very smart and plays with a lot of confidence. He'll fly around and make plays. "He and Devin have such camara- derie and continuity because they're so comfortable with each other. They