Story Poster
Notre Dame Football Recruiting

The "Jay Cutler of Receivers" Planning Massive Summer Tour

May 18, 2017
5,643

2018 Clemens (Texas) receiver Tommy Bush has seen college coach after college coach stop by his school this spring, and Notre Dame made its presence felt last week. Receivers coach Del Alexander stopped to check on the four-star prospect, and the first-year Notre Dame coach has the Irish in the race.

“Coach Alexander came down to see me,” the 6-foot-5, 185-pounder told Irish Sports Daily. “He really wants me to come up and see South Bend. He’s a great coach, and I am in contact with him consistently along with Aaryn Kearney, Coach (Chip) Long, and Coach (Brian) Kelly.”

It’s easy to see what the college programs see in Bush as he put one a show at The Opening regional in Houston earlier this spring. Bush ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, ran 4.15 in the three-cone drill, and recorded a vertical of 36 inches.

“They love my size, length, and speed,” said Bush. “They feel I could be a starter day one.”  

Bush is also one to not get caught up in his success and his recruitment, which matches the personality of Alexander. The two have become close, and a solid relationship has formed because of the personality match.

“Coach Alexander is laid back and not very aggressive,” explained Bush. “You have some receiver coaches that are really aggressive, but Coach Alexander is more about the Xs and Os. He is more personable and cares about my family and what I do after football. He tells me about the whole college experience versus just stuff about football.

I am not a real boisterous guy. Some people call me the Jay Cutler of wide receivers. - 2018 WR Tommy Bush
“I am not a real boisterous guy. Some people call me the Jay Cutler of wide receivers. I am just a guy that goes out and gets it done. I don’t have to tell people about what I do, and I go out and do it. If I can’t do it, then I am going to keep working until I can do it.”

The Texas native holds over 40 offers, so as one can imagine his phone is blowing up every day with coaches wanting to speak with him. However, Bush wouldn’t trade places with anyone in the country despite the recruiting process being stressful.  

“There are about 15 schools coming at me the hardest right now,” stated Bush. “Notre Dame, Oregon, Oklahoma State, Baylor, TCU, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Penn State, and Michigan State.

“Every day is crazy, but I am blessed. I could be a guy not knowing what I am doing next year, so I’ll take the good with the bad.”

The Bush family will soon head out on the road on a massive road trip covering most of the South. A Midwest tour is in the works, but with the Southern schools closer, the family wants to knock those out first.  

“My parents and I have sat down, and we came up with a summer schedule,” Bush explained. “We are going to visit eight or nine schools this summer in the first week and a half of June.

“When we get back home, we will hopefully set up some more visits before the dead period and possibly up North to see Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, and the other Midwest schools.”

The schools on the list for the June tour are some of the hottest programs in the country, so the relationship with Alexander could be huge for the Irish to stay in the race.

“The first round will probably be Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. We are looking at flying into Atlanta and then flying back out to maybe Chicago for the second set of visits.” 


 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.