Another Miami Hurricane if off the board as safety Deon Bush was picked up by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Bush—a hometown product who chose Miami over Alabama—rolled into Coral Gables from nearby Columbus High. A 4-star recruit, Bush was the fifth-ranked safety prospect in 2012.
As a freshman Bush played in 10 games for the Canes, making six starts at safety. By year’s end, second-team Freshman All-America honors by CollegeFootballNews. Bush had 34 tackles—including 28 solo stops.
The following season Bush played in 11 games, making three starts after missing the first two games due to injury. Bush shone brightest in a bowl game loss against Louisville with a team-high seven tackles, one sack and a safety.
The Canes opened against the Cardinals in 2014 and the junior posted six tackles and five solo stops, en route to a 53-tackle season with two interceptions, two passes broken up and four tackles-for-loss—all career highs.
Bush earned All-ACC Honorable Mention his first three season, but as a senior made All-ACC Third Team after starting 12 of 13 games. (The lone non-start the result of a missed first half due to targeting the previous week.)
Bush ranked fifth on the team with 50 total tackles and ranked second with six passes broken up. He finished his career at Miami with 168 total tackles and nine forced fumbles.
The senior safety was also one of 22 college football players named to the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good World Team; one of the most-significant off-the-field honors in the sport.
Bush earned his way onto the team for his community service efforts, helping all over 500 donors to the Be The Match Bone Marrow Drive’s national registry. He also used per diem money from the 2014 Independence Bowl to buy Christmas gift for underprivileged youth.
A big reason for Bush’s philanthropy; seeing Gary Bush—his father—battle liver cancer and an uncle, Arabia Omar Darensburg in need of a kidney transplant; both setbacks occurring during the safety’s time at “The U”.
Bush’s journey to the NFL is a dream come true—like so many in his position—though it’s safe to say there will be a deeper appreciate for the accomplishment than others might have.
In Chicago, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Buch is projected as a special teams starter that will have the opportunity to compete for a safety spot.
The Bears’ nabbed fifth-round pick Adrian Amos in 2015, with the safety making 16 starts as a rookie. Former Canes great—Antrel Rolle is also with Chicago and while banged up, the veteran is the perfect hard-hitting safety-type to help bring Bush along.
According to the CBS Sports breakdown:
A tall, rangy defensive back, Bush is a terrific athlete with the required length, physicality and ball-skills for the safety position at the NFL level. He is used all over the Hurricanes’ defense, giving scouts an opportunity to evaluate him as a blitzer, in run support, single high in coverage even dropping down to cover slot receivers.
Bush has a lean body type, but he’s not skinny and plays tougher than he looks, throwing his body around and delivering jarring hits to separate his target from the ball on defense and special teams (nine forced fumbles over his career). He light feet and fluid hips to change directions quickly and accelerates in a flash.
Bush has the instincts and range for the deep middle, reading the eyes of quarterbacks and erasing deep-ball opportunities. He locates the football well and times his leap to win contested passes.
Chicago landed a quality safety in Bush—and an even better person.