UGA football has added several talented receivers in recent classes, but older receivers like Tommy Bush shouldn’t be overlooked.
The UGA football receiving corps has reached a threshold. The recently signed wideouts of the 2019 and 2020 classes are clearly the future of the group, but there are still several receivers from prior classes who are talented in their own right.
2020 is a huge season for that older group. Will they join the recent signees in the future, or will they get left behind? Near the top of the list of older receivers is Tommy Bush, a 6-5, 195-lb. redshirt sophomore from Schertz, Tex.
Bush was the No. 196 player and No. 37 receiver coming out of high school in 2018. He redshirted his first year with expectations of being a huge factor in 2019, but a sports hernia prevented that from happening.
When healthy, Bush has the potential to be a problem for defenders. He’s tall with amazingly long arms, but he is also blazing fast. Bush won’t be mistaken for an outstanding route runner, but that doesn’t mean he has trouble getting open. He is a physical guy who knows how to use his size against coverage.
If a corner tries to bump Bush at the line, they run the risk of being left on the ground while Bush sprints downfield. When Bush cuts inside, he positions himself between the ball and the defender, making himself the only one with a chance to make a catch.
Where Bush shines brightest are on jump balls. He has a solid vertical leap with impressive body control. Throw in the long, strong arms, you have a receiver who can make catches over just about any defender.
Bush is right there with Kearis Jackson and Matt Landers as receivers at risk of being left behind, and the lack of a spring season didn’t do them any favors. But all three have the talent and some skills necessary to earn substantial playing time this season and become factors in the passing game. 2020 might not be a breakout year for Bush, but he can get his UGA football career back on track and implant himself within the future of Georgia’s receiving corps.