Despite a couple years of less than stellar results for the University of Michigan‘s football program, there is already a fair amount of hype surrounding next season’s team, and it seems that Michigan football is still churning out quality players.
From quarterback Shea Patterson‘s eligibility being announced, to a couple of defensive players cracking the top ten in NFL.com’s “top 150 college football players to watch” list, Wolverines fans have plenty to look forward to next season.
The two defensive players to crack the top ten in the aforementioned “top 150 players to watch” list should come as no surprise: defensive end Rashan Gary (who coincidentally came in at #3, same as his jersey number), and linebacker Devin Bush (#10, also the same as his jersey number). While both players’ position on the list just so happens to match their jersey numbers, that is the only coincidence to be found here.
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Bush, who is entering his junior year, had a very nice sophomore year. He finished the campaign with a total of 95 tackles (10 for loss), 5.5 sacks, an interception, and seven passes defended. His 95 total tackles for the season were the ninth most in the Big Ten, while his 51 assisted tackles were the sixth most in the conference. Bush is the only linebacker in the country to land in the top ten. Here’s what NFL.com’s Chad Reiter had to say about him:
“Bush is the new prototype for linebacker in college and the NFL — not necessarily big, but fast and aggressive. He can blow through the A-gap to wrap up quarterbacks, attack gaps on stretch plays to bring down running backs in the backfield, and get out to the hash to cover receivers.”
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Not to be outdone, fellow junior Rashan Gary was ranked a few spots higher on the list, coming in at the number three spot. Gary has been a beast in each of his first two collegiate seasons, finishing last year with 81 tackles (11.5 for loss) 5.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Reiter sang Gary’s praises as well:
“A big man with linebacker-like movement skills, Gary joins Oliver and Bosa as elite players on the defensive line. Big Ten tackles are not happy to see him line up across from them, as he can overpower them or out-quick them, depending on the situation.”
Also included in the top 50 were Patterson (#25) and linebacker Chase Winovich (#47).