By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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After dazzling coaches and evaluators on the camp circuit during the offseason, Michael Bush is poised to translate his combine success into further production on the gridiron.

The Pierce County Bears, located in Blackshear, Georgia, are a football team that knows all about scoring points and churning out yardage on offense.

Led by former Valdosta State standout Sean Pender, a disciple of the Hal Mumme “Air Raid” offense, the Bears have rapidly become one of the most feared offensive teams, regardless of classification, in the Peach State.

A master at using his scheme to gain the upper-hand over opposing defenses, Pender’s offenses have been successful everywhere he has coached at the high school level. Though unbelievably simplistic at its core, Pender’s version of the “Air Raid” has thoroughly confused defensive coordinators due to the pressure that it puts all over the field. 

Having quality quarterbacks, such as recent Central Florida signee Tyler Harris, has certainly helped Pender experience tremendous success in his coaching career, but the scheme all but ensured that a modicum of success was inevitable.

Where Pierce County’s offense very well may have been taken to the next level over the past couple of seasons, however, is with its ability to effectively run the football.

Rising senior running back Michael Bush (5-11, 185) undoubtedly made the most of his somewhat limited opportunities as a junior, rushing for over 700 yards and accounting for 14 touchdowns on just 70 carries. He also, because of his versatility, chipped in with approximately 40 receptions in the passing game as a part-time receiver.

With last season’s starting quarterback now competing for the starting job for the defending Fiesta Bowl champs, and a slew of wide receivers lost to graduation, Bush will be counted on to carry an even bigger part of the offensive load in 2014. And with his athleticism and versatility lending themselves to natural production, Bush is focusing much of his time on becoming a better leader for his team during his final prep campaign.

“My biggest strength is leadership,” Bush told Southern Pigskin. “Every football team needs that one leader that can keep them up and keep them going, and I try to be that leader. Without a leader, minds are going everywhere and there is straight chaos. I just try to keep them on the right track, on and off the field, and especially in the classroom.”

In addition to the work he is putting in with his teammates, he is also focusing on taking his game to the next level. Bush is spending an incredible amount of time in the weight room in an attempt to put on an additional 10-15 pounds of muscle before enrolling in college at the end of the school year.  

Although Bush would undoubtedly have better individual statistical performances if he were playing in a different offensive scheme, he has shown an extreme amount of unselfishness in doing whatever it takes to help his team win football games.

His lack of overall touches has not scared away college coaches either, as he has already received his first full scholarship offer.

“It’s going really good,” Bush said of the recruiting process. “I’ve been hearing a lot from Georgia Southern and Valdosta State lately. Georgia Southern’s head coach came in and talked to me and my mom, and he was real interested in me. He was thinking about offering me by the end of the season.”

As he prepares to become a more integral part of the offense as a senior, Bush is confident that his recruitment will continue to heat up. Given his lateral agility and improving strength, it is only a matter of time before an increasing amount of college programs take notice.

After dazzling coaches and evaluators on the camp circuit during the offseason, Bush is poised to translate his combine success into further production on the gridiron.

For defenses already trembling from the thought of facing Pierce County’s offense, such a notion is certainly cause for concern.