Bush making an impression on, off field for Chicago Bears

Last year's Chicago Bears defense lacked big plays and impact players, two shortcomings that fourth-round safety Deon Bush could remedy as a rookie with his flair for creating turnovers and making monster hits.

And Bush makes an even more significant impression off the field.

At 199 pounds and a shade over 6 feet, the 124th overall draft pick looks almost skinny. But that just makes his physicality all the more surprising to opponents, as evidenced by his extensive collection of greatest hits on YouTube.

"They're probably not expecting that," the 22-year-old Bush said of the violent collisions that have earned him a reputation as a big hitter. "That's just something that I take pride in and something that I like to show (opponents), even though I'm not the size that everyone expects."

One of the pre-draft concerns on Bush was that, given his thin frame, he might hit opponents so hard that he could injure himself.

In addition to 4 career interceptions, Bush's 9 forced fumbles at Miami are the most in the ACC in the past 10 years, and he led the NCAA with 5 forced fumbles in 2014.

Like scores of South Florida defensive backs from his generation, Bush idolized former Miami All-America safety Sean Taylor, who picked off 12 passes and forced 8 fumbles in a four-year NFL career in Washington cut short when he was murdered during a home invasion.

It was South Florida legends such as Taylor and Edgerrin James who came back to the area to interact with youngsters that inspired Bush to follow suit and give back to the next generation.

"Growing up (in Miami), I had a lot of people that were big in the community, and they always came back," he said. "You had guys in the NFL come to parks and teach us that we could make it out."

It's also the kind of selflessness that Bush learned from his parents, Michele and Gary.

Bush was one of 22 student-athletes named to the 2015 Allstate AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Good Works Team for his contributions to the community.

"I just try to represent my family, and my dad's name, and how my mom and dad raised me," he said. "I know that (award) reflects on how they raised me, so I was happy for them."

When the Hurricanes were in Shreveport, Louisiana, to play in the Independence Bowl in December 2014, Bush and his teammates served food at a homeless shelter. But his involvement didn't end there. Bush used his per diem money for the week to buy toys for 25 children at the shelter.

"I just saw all the kids, and they were so grateful, regardless of their circumstances," he said. "They didn't have any place to live, and I knew they weren't going to get the type of Christmas that a lot of kids get.

"It was really nothing. I wasn't really trying to let everyone know about it, I was just doing it on the side. I just did it from the heart, that's it."

Ironically, Bush is just as passionate about sticking it to opponents as he is to helping his fellow man.

"I try to do whatever I can to fuel the emotion of the defense, and a big pop kind of changes the tempo of the game," he said. "It brings energy to (your) sideline; it brings energy to the rest of the team."

That's an attitude and a playing style that would be welcomed in a Bears secondary that produced just 4 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles last season.

"Just like any big play, a big hit just basically sets the tone," Bush said. "It lets the other team know that you're not going to get any easy catches, and we're going to come after you if you catch the ball."

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