By Trevor Joelson

Michael Bush announced on Jan. 9 that he was not going to return for his senior season. The University of Louisville football player chose to leave U of L and forego his medical red shirt eligibility in favor of pursuing the NFL.

At a press conference in the University of Louisville’s Student Activities Center, Bush, with his parents by his side, told the media that he had been leaning toward the NFL and the departure of Bobby Petrino to the Atlanta Falcons finalized his decision.

“When [Petrino] signed the deal, I really didn’t want to play for anybody else,” said Bush.

Bush is a local product from Louisville Male High School where he led the team to the state championship game his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He was also named Kentucky’s Mr. Football his senior year.

Out of high school Bush was ranked the 12th best prospect in the country by http://www.theinsidersrecruiting.com. He had offers from many other major college football programs, but passed on offers from Ohio State, Tennessee, Kentucky and Oklahoma to instead play for his hometown Cardinals.

Bush made the first team all Big East following his junior season. He set a school record with 23 rushing touchdowns and after flirting with skipping his senior season then for the NFL draft, he decided to come back and play one more season. His decision was considered wise by many analysts because that same year the draft touted running backs such as Reggie Bush, Lawrence Maroney and DeAngelo Williams.

Prior to the start of his senior season, he was touted as one of the best players in the nation. He was a preseason All-American, a Heisman candidate and a Louisville celebrity, being placed with quarterback Brian Brohm on the cover of Louisville’s football media guide, which was aptly named the Derby City Duo. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. listed him as the best senior running back in the country and as the eighth best senior overall.

But it ended shortly. Bush lost his season to a broken leg suffered against Kentucky in the season opener Governor’s Cup.

“Bush was a huge cornerstone to the team,” said senior philosophy/psychology double major Jesse Payne. “He opened the offense like few other players can.”

Bush has been invited to the NFL combine. His position in the draft will be highly contingent on his performance there as well as his health. Before the injury, his combination of size, speed and athleticism attracted many NFL scouts.

Sophomore business management major Ranson Barnett said, “If he can get his leg back in order and be explosive off the line I think he will be everything everyone thought he could be.”

The Web site http://www.nfldraftscout.com lists Michael Bush at 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, with a 40-yard dash time of 4.62. Many NFL scouts question the durability of Bush and also the weight gained.

There have been players in a similar position to Bush in past NFL drafts. Willis Mcgahee was drafted No. 23 overall in the 2003 draft by the Buffalo Bills after suffering a severe knee injury in the 2002 National Championship game. In last year’s draft, Florida State cornerback Antonio Cromartie was drafted No. 19 overall by the San Diego Chargers after missing the entire 2005 season to injury.

Junior political science major Kate Brueggemann said, “Although Bush was a strong asset to the team I have confidence that the team will survive without him, similar to this year.”

The NFL draft is set for April 28 and 29.