When a quality college resume still wasn’t enough to receive an invite to February’s NFL combine in Indianapolis, that gave former MSU standout Marcus Rush a much-needed edge during this past Wednesday’s pro day.
NFL scouts seemed to think Rush wasn’t good enough to be invited to the combine, but he showed why that wasn’t the case.
Backing up why he started a program-record 53 games in his four years at East Lansing, Rush finished with a 4.68 40-yard dash, 24 225-pound bench reps and a 34-inch vertical leap.
Rush said not being invited to the combine gave him added motivation
“It just gave me a chip on my shoulder,” Rush said at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. “To work even harder and come out here and show everyone why I should have been invited.”
Part of a gruesome defensive unit, led by former coordinator Pat Narduzzi, Rush helped contribute to MSU being the only program ranked in the top 10 in rushing defense and total defense.
He finished as a two-time Big Ten honorable mentioned recipient during his junior and senior season. He concluded with 163 tackles, 37.5 tackles for a loss and 18.5 sacks.
“He made plays at every spectrum of the field,”head coach Mark Dantonio said. “Whether it was a little bit at linebacker, or defensive end, or blocking punts or kicks. That’s the kind of player he has been here. He’s one of those type of guys.”
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 251 pounds, his rather small structure as a down lineman has propelled the Ohio native to train and get a comfortable feel at linebacker, a position that he could find decent success in during his professional career.
Among all 32 teams in attendance, the Cincinnati Bengals are expected to work out Rush, to see if he can fit into their system next year. Another AFC North franchise, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who traditionally run a 3-4 defense, could be an ideal location for Rush based on his attributes.
“A lot of times are changing to a 3-4 (alignment),” Rush said. “And that’s good to hear because I think that’s where I fit in at that stand-up linebacker.”
