Washington Redskins 2016 Draft Profiles: Deon Bush, S

Deon Bush, Safety

School: Miami (FL) | Conference: ACC
College Experience: Senior | Age: 21-22
Height/Weight: 6-1 / 201 lbs
NFL Comparison: Mo Alexander, Antrel Rolle

College Statistics

Player Overview

Deon Bush hails from Miami, Florida and played his high school football at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. As an upperclassman, he recorded 90 tackles, 10 interceptions, and a punt return touchdown. He was rated a four star recruit on both 247sports.com and Rivals.com. On the 247sports Composite, he was ranked the 22nd best player in Florida and ninth best safety. He chose to play for his home state school over Florida, Florida State, Alabama and Auburn.

As a true freshman in 2012, he started six of the 10 games he played in, made his career-first start against Bethune-Cookman, was named second-team Freshman All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com, forced two fumbles in a loss to Notre Dame Fighting Irish, was named Newcomer of the Year at team’s end-of-season banquet and earned his first letter as a college athlete. In his sophomore campaign (2013), he was able to get an All-ACC Honorable mention by the ACSMA after starting in only three games and playing in 11 total. He made his season debut against Savannah State, recorded career-first sack and also forced a fumble on same play in road win at USF and recorded four tackles and first career interception in ACC loss at No. 3 Florida State

As an upperclassman, he received an All-ACC Honorable mention twice and All-ACC Third Team honors by coaches

Off the field though, in 2013, his father Gary Bush Sr. was dealing with liver cancer. Deon not only was helping his father deal with the disease but also taking action to help others according to the Miami Herald's Susan Miller Degnan.

With the help of friends, Gary Bush and his family have created a website to inform others of his situation, make them aware of the importance of checkups and share his strong faith. Bush, an avid churchgoer and follower of pastor Alphonso Jackson at the Second Baptist Church in Richmond Heights, takes joy in online messages of hope from outsiders. . .

"He’s a very down-to-earth, great person, and I’m a changed young man because of my father,’’ said GJ, who played football, basketball and ran track at Columbus High. "I get up every day and push myself like it’s my last day. I don’t take anything for granted. I appreciate things more."

With stories like this in a player's background, you can't help but root for him in all phases of life.

Back to the on the field business though, here are his strengths, weaknesses and highlight film:

Strengths

• One thing anyone can not mistake Bush for is physical. The first play of film I saw on this guy, he made a big hit and jarred the ball loose from a Nebraska wide receiver in 2015 game.

• He’s a good at helping out in run support. Reminds me of a Troy Polamalu in that way but doesn’t have Polamalu’s speed.

• Made a big play on special teams kick off in the Florida State game in 2014 that caused a fumble and change of possession. His physicality again coming in handy.
• He also had an interception in that game

Weaknesses

• Needs to work on wrapping up ball carriers when they come at him. He uses is his arms too much or has a tendency to go for the big hit
• When he’s covering wide receivers, I didn’t see him press much, he let them run free off the line of scrimmage

How He Would Fit on the Redskins

He is a physical safety. The Redskins need another physical safety to accompany Dashon Goldson. Bush could become a great safety in the NFL. This may be a major stretch but I see parts of Sean Taylor in this guy. Not because of the obvious Miami connection because of his hard hitting mentality. It's one small reason but this kid is good and the Redskins secondary hasn't had solid safety play in years. I will admit though, that Bush doesn't have the sideline to sideline lateral speed and quickness that Taylor had.