Michigan LB Devin Bush Jr. almost took leave of absence from team for ‘family issue’

Earlier in the month, Michigan linebacker Devin Bush Jr. considered taking a leave of absence from the football program because of a “family issue.”

Ultimately, Bush said on Tuesday that he did not take the leave of absence and made the tough decision to remain with the team. While the specifics of what happened with his family are not clear, Bush said that he thinks the decision he made to stay in Ann Arbor was the right one.

“It was a little family issue we had. I could have went home,” Bush said. “I was caught between, go home and be with my family at this time, or stay here. I picked to stay here. I feel like I’m needed here and my guys need me and I need to be there for the younger guys, as well. They’re going to need my help, probably all year. I just feel like it was a big decision for me to stay here. I think I made the right decision.”

Bush also said that he talked to his father — Michigan defensive analyst Devin Bush Sr. — about what he should do.

“We talked. [My father] wasn’t trying to make me [go] home or make me stay,” Bush said. “He just said, ‘Look, you’re a man and you have to make decisions like this. Make the decision and follow your heart.'”

While Bush did stay in Michigan, he said that if he decided to go home, he would not have been there for very long. He said that he would have stayed home for a few days and only missed two practices.

Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown also spoke on Bush’s situation, noting that the team would have understood if he decided to go home. Additionally, Brown said that Bush’s decision to stay with the team speaks to his character.

“He had a personal mishap and he had the chance to go home. Nobody would have said a word about it. Those kinds of things go left, they get left sometimes, when people are evaluating a young man. He’s got a strong dad and family and obviously he made this decision to stay here. Either way, he was fine with me.

“He’s just a different cut of guy. It impresses me. Sometimes, everybody’s got an opinion on certain things when it comes to wins and losses, I get all that. But this is a guy that gives you everything he’s got and gives it to his teammates, and I think, above and beyond. I think it was important to mention.”

Last season, Bush made 51 total tackles (44 solo), 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. In addition, he made one interception and finished with 7 passes defended in 13 total games.

Land of 10’s Rachel Lenzi contributed to this story.