After recording 12 tackles for loss and four sacks this season, MSU defensive end Marcus Rush has been named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.
Rush joins defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, who recently declared for the NFL Draft, and three other players — kicker Brett Swenson, linebacker Greg Jones and offensive guard Joel Foreman — as the five Spartans to be named FWAA All-Americans in the last six years. He also is one of just two Big Ten players to make the 28-man list, with Northwestern safety Ibraheim Campbell being the other.
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Rush started all 14 games as the Spartans finished the season 11-3 for their second straight 11-win season. His tackles for loss and sack numbers were good for third on the time, while his 58 tackles placed him in second among MSU defensive linemen this season. In addition to making various other All-Freshman teams, he also was named the Big Ten Freshman Defensive MVP by ESPN.com.
Rush capped his season by tying for the team lead in tackles (7) in the Spartans’ 33-30 triple overtime win over Georgia in the Outback Bowl.
Despite being undersized and at the bottom of the depth chart to start the season, Rush became a force for the Spartans early in the season, MSU defensive line coach Ted Gill said in a statement released by the university.
“It was neat to watch Marcus Rush mature throughout the season,” Gill said. “His work habits improved, he took great interest in studying film, and he came to the practice field ready to work. I truly came to appreciate the way he approached the game.”
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