Name: Devin Bush
Position: Linebacker
School: Michigan
Ht/Wt: 5-11, 234
40-yard dash: 4.43 seconds
Bench: 21 reps
Vertical: 40.5 inches
Broad: 124.0 inches
3-cone: 6.93 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.23 seconds
How he fits: We saw last season how versatile Jarrad Davis could be at the linebacker position playing in Matt Patricia and Paul Pasqualoni's scheme. He was one of two players in the league last season to record at least 100 tackles and six sacks.
Bush showed off the same kind of versatility the last two seasons in Don Brown's Michigan defense. He compiled 102 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception as a sophomore in 2017, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. He was also named a finalist for the Butkus Award as one of the nation's top linebackers.
Bush was a team captain this past season at Michigan, and was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Wolverines with 80 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and six passes defended in 12 games.
Bush's speed and instincts really jump out when watching him. He ran in the 4.4's at the Combine, and that speed translates to the field. Much like LSU's Devin White, who's considered to be the best linebacker in this class, Bush is a sideline-to-sideline player and could make a nice pairing at linebacker alongside Davis in the middle of Detroit's defense.
Key observations: Bush played in 39 career contests, including 32 at linebacker, with 25 starts. He recorded 10 sacks over the past two seasons as an off-the-ball linebacker, which means he could be deployed as an effective blitzer in the right scheme at the NFL level. He had top five pass-rushing grades among off-the-ball linebackers each of the past two seasons from Pro Football Focus.
Bush fits the mold of what teams are looking for in today's linebacker -- A player who can run, cover, play the run, blitz and do all four at a high level.
What they had to say about him: "Bush is a little undersized for the position (5-11, 234 pounds), but he makes up for it with instincts, twitch and production. He's excellent as a zone dropper against the pass – quick to key routes and get a jump on the ball. In man coverage, he has the speed to run with tight ends and running backs, but he gets a little too grabby down the field.
"He is an excellent blitzer, using a dip/rip move to defeat running backs. Bush really excels in the run game. He is quick to identify, fill and chest up runners. He is also capable of shocking and shedding guards when they work up to the second level. He has a high batting average as a tackler and provides some huge hits. Overall, Bush is a three-down linebacker, and he'll provide the team that drafts him with a physical presence." – Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Analyst
How he stacks up: Bush comes in at No. 9 on Jeremiah's latest list of the top 50 players in the draft, which is up five spots from his previous rank. Amongst the linebackers in this class, Jeremiah lists White (No. 6) as the only player ahead of Bush.
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks released his latest top 5 at every position and Bush comes in at No. 2 at linebacker behind White.
Bush soared up 19 spots to No. 11 on Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest Big Board. He's listed as the No. 10 overall prospect in the draft by Scouts Inc.
What he had to say: "I feel like I fit it," Bush said at the Combine of fitting the modern mold at linebacker in the NFL. "I feel like I can succeed in that role. That's my game. I'm a twitchy linebacker. I can cover. I can blitz. I can play the run. I can do it all."
