It seems safe to characterize Tommy Bush Jr. as a smidge “overcooked” with the recruiting process in general at this point.
The 4-star receiver has been on two official visits (UGA and Ole Miss) that weathered significant travel delays. He will not forget those out-of-the-blue elements like seven inches of December snow in Georgia. There was also that service animal who really had to go on the plane on that Ole Miss trip.
Bush could take an official to Baylor or Texas this weekend. That would just have to follow three days worth of recruiting visits during the week.
It would also follow Kirby Smart and most of the offensive staff flying in to see him on Friday.
“It is still 50-50 on the official,” Bush said. “I’m really torn, but I really think I have seen enough to make a pretty good decision but might need it. I do feel better [about my choice], but I will feel a lot better when I sign and get back to work.”
Bush will effort to make sure the school he will commit to knows where he is going in advance.
He aims to give them at least a day’s notice, if not even more than that. The Under Armour All-American is shrewd enough to know it would be wise to keep at least one school as an understudy in case his top choice does not pan out.
“You never know what these guys are going to be doing,” he said. “I don’t want to have to start begging for a spot.”
He acknowledges that his final official visit to Baylor or Texas this weekend would not accomplish a great deal. The Samuel Clemens High School standout has been to both spots a number of times.
Bush thinks he could have a very good idea of his next move after he sees Kirby Smart and the Georgia staff on Friday. That will mean he has heard the best pitch from three of the schools on his short list.
“Just have to get in some good prayer,” Bush said, answering a question about what he would need to do next after that meeting with UGA.
Another wrinkle with the Tommy Bush decision
Ole Miss continues to make itself known in this decision. The Rebels would offer quicker playing time than what he might potentially grab in his first year at other programs.
The SEC West program is set to occupy a lot of his time Wednesday. The plan is to meet with the offensive staff from Ole Miss. Rebels coach Matt Luke is also expected to be in that conversation.
Texas will visit with its offensive staff Thursday. Michigan State will also swing by.
That visit will be made by longtime Spartans receivers coach Terrence Samuel.
Bush took an official visit to Michigan State. The Spartans are the only school among the final group that he used an official for to see a game last season.
The last in-home visit will be with Smart and UGA on Friday. He’s expecting the head coach to bring the entire offensive staff.
“That’s why I don’t really want to take the last official visit,” Bush said. “I will be tired as heck.”
But there’s a new wrinkle there with the Spartans. Bush said he and his family have taken those troubling reports of late into account regarding that athletic department.
“We do take the Michigan State stuff into our decision and it makes it hard,” Bush said. “Especially this close. That’s why I have to tune everything out and focus.”
How Tommy Bush fits in at UGA
The nation’s No. 37 receiver for 2018 per the 247Sports Composite would add a different element to the receiver room at UGA. He would be a new luxury item at 6 feet, 4.5 inches who also crests the 190-pound plateau on the scale.
Bush also has 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash and a 36.4-inch vertical leap in his skill set.
The only current UGA player comparison with that size and those traits would be redshirt freshman Matt Landers. Bush is also still somewhat raw. He comes from a high school offense that only threw the ball for approximately 60 yards per game this past season.
In case you missed it, Bush recapped the first-class treatment he received from UGA back in December on that snowy official visit.
If he does sign with UGA, there might be a determined graduate assistant to thank for that.