Bush Among Five Finalists for Nagurski Trophy
11/14/2018 2:00:00 PM | Football
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Junior linebacker and defensive captain Devin Bush of the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan football program was selected as one of five finalists for the 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Charlotte Touchdown Club announced on Wednesday (Nov. 14). The trophy has been awarded to the best defensive player in college football each year since its creation in 1993.
Other finalists for the award include Kentucky's Josh Allen (linebacker), LSU's Grant Delpit (defensive back), Alabama's Quinnen Williams (nose tackle) and Clemson's Christian Wilkins (defensive tackle). All five players will be honored at the club's awards banquet on Dec. 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina, where U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh will be the keynote speaker. The banquet will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
Bush is Michigan's second finalist for the award in the last three seasons, joining former All-American Jabrill Peppers (2016). Leon Hall (2006) was also a finalist, and Charles Woodson (1997) is the program's lone winner.
Bush is a native of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and is in his second season starting at middle linebacker in defensive coordinator Don Brown's aggressive, blitz-heavy defense. A two-time letterwinner, Bush leads a unit that ranks No. 1 in the nation in total defense, pass defense and pass efficiency defense, and leads the Big Ten Conference in seven of eight major categories.
The Michigan linebacker is the team's leading tackler with 61 total stops and ranks second in sacks (4.5) and tied for second in tackles for loss (8.0). Bush was praised as a midseason All-American by the Associated Press and is a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, which is presented to the nation's top linebacker. He has played more than 530 snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus, which measures him as the top Big Ten linebacker in pass coverage (No. 15 nationally) and the No. 2-ranked linebacker in pass rush (No. 6 nationally).
Bush directs a shutdown defense and is the engine behind the Wolverines' attacking front-seven. Eight of Michigan's 10 opponents have recorded their lowest yardage of the season when playing U-M, and the team's 11.7 points per game allowed in conference play is the best among Power 5 programs. Opponents have been afforded just 1.6 red zone trips per game against the Maize and Blue, and opposing quarterbacks have been held to 47.3 percent completion percentage (114-of-241) on the season.
An early contributor since he stepped foot on campus, Bush has appeared in 37 contests in his career, racking up 175 total tackles with 18.5 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks. He has one interception and 12 pass breakups.
Michigan will celebrate its Senior Day against Indiana on Saturday (Nov. 17) with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. on FS1.
