Expectation: All Big Ten DE
Height: 6’2”
Weight: #255
2012 Eligibility: Redshirt Sophomore
EXP: 1 Letter
Status: Starting DE
Strengths: Rush is a man among boys. Had he not been on the same line with William Gholston, there is no telling how much publicity he would have got in 2011. He is a dominant force, a super person and a young man whose football IQ is off the charts.
It seems with the first few profiles were a spending a lot of time with the UM game, but here we go again.
Against the Wolverines UM had a 3rd and 11 in the fourth quarter. There was 3:53 on the clock and the Wolverines had the ball at the MSU 34. Pat Narduzzi was able to rush only three defenders and drop eight men back in coverage because of the play of Rush. He made a great spin move, shot the gap and tackled Shoelaces for the sack.
Gholston is raw power and an athletic freak of nature. Rush is smart, technique sound and plays with the same passion as Gholston. He is a game changer and this season as teams live in utter fear of Gholston, after the game I suspect Rush will give them as much, or more nightmares with his play.
Weakness: You have to remember that Rush was only a FRESHMAN last season. He was a true dominant freshman at that folks. He gets so fired up and jacked up that at
times he will make mental mistakes. The good thing is that this young man doesn’t make mistakes based on a lack of talent. Let me give a great example.
Rush was playing great against UM last year and with the Wolverines facing a 1st and ten at their own 20 in the 4th quarter. There was 4:31 on the clock and after Shoelaces threw the ball and it was clearly away Rush not only hit him, but took him to the ground. It was clear that the ball was away.
He was frustrated, I get it, but that was a mental error that luckily he fixed with the play listed above under strengths. Rush has only one person that stands between
him and the NFL: himself. He has the entire God given tools to not be good, but great. He also has the passion and the work ethic from his parents to get there.
Final Analysis: If every member of the Spartan Nation could spend five minutes with Rush you would love the kid. He is humble, defers the praise to his team and coaches and is a great person. MSU not only has the best DL in the B1G, but top to bottom they are a super group of young men. Rush is as good as any of them.
