Since coming to MSU, Rush has moved up from a Rivals.com three-star recruit to a 6-foot-2 250-pound starting defensive end for No. 23 MSU (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) and playing on one of the nation’s top defenses. Five games into the season, Rush has already had an impact on the Spartans’ playing.

Rush said it was one of his goals for the season to earn a starting position, and as a consistent starter, he’s willing to do anything to hang onto it.

“I was excited (to start), but I was still thinking that I need to continue to get better and not think about how I’m a starter and focus on how I need to get better in order to stay at the starting spot,” Rush said.

Despite only having game experience this season, junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy said he rarely notices how young Rush is because he remains “fully engaged” every week at practice.

Since spring football and training camp this season, Worthy said he’s seen major differences in the way Rush plays. In the spring, he said Rush sometimes struggled to recognize plays and blocks, but his work in the offseason has paid off.

“He’s a guy with a lot of heart, he’s a guy with a lot of energy,” Worthy said. “He’s fully engaged just being a guy that’s able to get out there for the first time, and he’s made a lot of good plays for us this season.

“He’s always trying to work to get better. He’s always asking me questions about what (he) can do to get better in certain situations, so he brings a lot of intensity and a lot of focus to the team.”

Last week, Rush was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his performance in MSU’s 10-7 win over Ohio State. He had four tackles and recorded his first career sack against Buckeye quarterback Joe Bauserman for a seven-yard loss.

Overall this season, Rush has racked up 18 total tackles, and he leads the team with six quarterback hurries. He said he was so excited about throwing down his first sack that he can’t explain how he felt.

“Rush played very well at Ohio State, but he’s really performed well since becoming a starter,” head coach Mark Dantonio said in a release from the MSU Athletics Department. “He’s an extremely intelligent and active player who plays with a lot of energy.

“(Rush) is an equally effective player wither as a stand-up end or with his hand down in the turf, (and) he’s emerged as a consistent playmaker on our defensive line.”

Although Worthy said Rush is always in the film room analyzing and looking for new ways to improve, Rush’s father — John Rush — said his son has always played with intensity.

“The qualities you’re seeing … from him on the field are qualities I think he’s always possessed from the first moment he put on a helmet,” John Rush said. “He’s always been very strong, very athletic, fundamentally sound tremendous instincts.”

Rush said he works well with MSU’s defense and capitalizes on his speed. Sophomore defensive end William Gholston recognized Rush’s agility, calling himself and Rush thunder and lightning because of their speed and strength.

With Rush’s intensity, focus and obvious love for football, Worthy — who might enter the NFL draft next season — anticipated that if he maintains the rate at which he’s improving this season, his potential in the future is unlimited.

“He really has no ceiling to his game right now; the sky’s the limit,” Worthy said. “He’s been making plays for us as a redshirt freshman, so as long as he continues to get better, he could be a person standing in my shoes someday.”