It’s safe to say that December has been a hectic month in the college football recruiting landscape. Considering the turnover of many coaching staffs, coupled with the inaugural early signing period, it’s been a learning experience for both recruits and coaches.
That’s why many prospects, including many of the top-ranked recruits in the 2018 class, intend to wait until the no-contact period ends Jan. 11 before re-evaluating their recruitments.
Samuel Clemens High (Tx.) wide receiver Tommy Bush is among the group continuing to assess his future, and he has no shortage of suitors.
The 6-foot-5 prospect took an official visit Dec. 15 to Georgia before the early signing period, and he’s already taken official visits to Michigan State and Oklahoma. With just two opportunities remaining for Bush to take visits, the Gators are making a late push after coach Dan Mullen offered him Dec. 13.
However, there seems to be less than a month until Bush announces his commitment, meaning it’s crunch time for Florida’s in-progress coaching staff.
“We’re trying to announce mid-January,” Bush, speaking to reporters during the Under Armour All-America game week, said. “I was trying to announce at the Under Armour game, but we decided to take a little more time. But I’m going to commit before Signing Day.”
Playing for Team Highlight this week, Bush will be pitched by the quarterback tasked with getting him the ball: Gators quarterback signee Emory Jones, who will enroll early at Florida.
#GoDawgs WR target Tommy Bush with a physical catch on the goal line. pic.twitter.com/rEIvPmzg8c
— Trent Smallwood (@SmallwoodTrent) December 31, 2017
If Bush feels there’s a natural connection, it could position Florida even better, but that won’t be what makes him take an official visit to UF. He has other factors in mind that pique his interest.
“The Mississippi State staff, you know I’ve been comfortable with them, so when they moved to Florida, you know we already liked Florida,” Bush said. “But that’s why we consider it most right now, for that.”
Bush said he had a prior relationship with coach Mullen and UF wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales, and their pitch to Bush, ranked the No. 37 wide receiver in the 2018 class by 247Sports, hasn’t changed.
“The only thing that changed was the schools,” Bush said. “I’m still a priority for them, they still want me there.”
Mullen and Gonzales have also laid out to Bush just how they envision using him if he were to sign with the Gators.
Tommy Bush vs. Trey Dean pic.twitter.com/1bmo7H8xeF
— Andrew Spivey (@AndrewSpiveyGC) December 31, 2017
“Just a big receiver that stretches the field, he’s been comfortable talking to me about priorities. He’s been in contact with me about that,” Bush said. “It’s OK, because they’ve been at Mississippi State. Now we just have to look at Florida as an actual school at that point.”
When it comes to choosing his final two official visits, the Gators will have to stave off an in-state school and two programs with offenses suited for his skill-set.
“Florida, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Baylor,” Bush, when asked of his remaining two official visit options, said.
Bush would be a huge pick up. Hopefully EJ can help turn him. A top LSU prospect just dropped out. 4* ATL Harold Joiner 6’4″ 218 lbs, and fast.
Has Florida on his new top 5 list. Really wants to be a RB. If he’s open to a more versatile role, RB, WR, OLB ect. May be very worth while prospect.
Once Emory Jones came on board for Coach Mullen and the Gators, things started falling in place. That is going to continue right up to National Signing Day. I’m buckled in and anticipating a topsy-turvy ride to the finish.
Same thoughts I’ve been having too, mtn2top. New surprises every day, it seems, but we ain’t seen nuthin’ yet…..it’s going to get wild pretty soon. As far as Texas signees go, Texas being very fertile ground but with natural inroads by Texas and TCU (Baylor and Texas Tech not being huge factors at the present)….and now TAMU both as an SEC program and with Jimbo Fisher there now as a pretty big draw….plus Oklahoma and Oklahoma State recruiting down here big time….well, it’s going to get even more crowded. If the Gators can squeeze through all that and pull this youngster into the fold, it’ll be huge. And promising for the future as far as Texas goes, if we starting winning big games and get back into the national conversation. Not holding my breath, but hopeful.
Bush is a DAWG! Book it. He wants to win championships.
I doubt very seriously he’ll be a dog…UG was a flash in the pan this year…they will be lucky to win 8-9 games next year…they will lose too much this year…UF will have a better running team than UG next year…count on it…If he wants to win Championships it will be at UF….you can count on that, too! UF needs WR’s and he would fit in just fine…
OK, that’s it. How bigga boy are ya anyway, Wally?