Arquon Bush is an intriguing cornerback and burgeoning special teams star to ponder heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.
The top cornerback in the state of Ohio coming out of high school, Bush chose the University of Cincinnati over schools such as Kentucky, Michigan State, Purdue and Rutgers in order to stay close to home. The Cleveland-raised Bush grew up an Ohio State fan but became a cold-blooded Bearcat en route to establishing himself as one of the most prolific defensive backs produced by the school.
Bush finished seventh in school history with nine interceptions and sixth in terms of passes defended with 31. In his senior season of 2022, he tallied 34 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble and six pass breakups en route to All-AAC honourable mention honours.
He also contributed to arguably the nation’s top pass defence in 2021 as Cincinnati - featuring 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner - ranked best in the nation in pass efficiency as they made the College Football Play-Offs. Bush revealed Cincinnati’s culture allowed each player to thrive and trust their peers to deliver.
“It was fun; there was a lot of chemistry,” Bush exclusively told Mirror Sport. “Obviously we talked to each other, but everyone already understood what was going on. We just knew the person to our right and the person to our left was going to get their job done, so it was up to you to deliver.
“It’s definitely great to see Sauce balling; I compliment him all the time and congratulate him for doing his thing out there. It’s definitely good to see knowing we all came from the same school.
“We all really got along well and were competitive - even against each other. We all picked each other up when we needed to be picked up, and held each other accountable when we needed to be held accountable. It was healthy competition to make each other better.”
At 6-foot and 198 lbs, Bush is a versatile defensive back whose presence is felt across the backfield. Since his sophomore season at Cincinnati, he has started at outside corner and nickel while he has received reps at safety. Nickel is his preferred position, but Bush believes he can contribute across the field due to his versatility, which is perhaps his greatest strength.
“[An NFL franchise] is going to get a smart player who is never in any trouble or drama,” Bush said. “I’m just here to do my job. I go out there and get everything done. I play fast and tough. I’m not scared to take risks. I’m just a smart player.
“I’m an aggressive player who can play across the defensive backfield, from safety to nickel to corner - I can do it all. If you want somebody who can do it all, come get me.”
He certainly can do it all, and he impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month by posting a 40-yard dash time of 4.54 seconds. Bush showcased his speed at Cincinnati as he tied a school record by blocking three field goals during his time as a Bearcat, so for all the talk of his versatility and athleticism, the cornerback could very well force his way into the starting line-up for an NFL franchise on special teams.
“A lot of people take the play off, but I just went as hard as I could to try and block the kick. That’s my mentality: go as hard as I can to make the play. Throw the ball at me; I want to make the interception. If you kick it, I’ll block it.”
It’s easy to root for Arquon Bush when interacting with the versatile defensive back. In an alternate universe where he wasn’t pursuing football, he admitted he would get into cooking so he could grill chicken and eat his favourite seafood regularly. However, in this life, Bush is ready to reach the NFL in order to make it up to his mother, the bedrock of his young career.
“My mother is the one who has been behind me the whole time,” Bush added when asked about the biggest influence on his career. “She made things happen for me, so I want to make things happen for her. She’s a happy woman now it’s draft time. She feels good about everything and is going to throw something together with some family members [for draft weekend].
While the post-pro day, pre-draft season can be a nerve-racking period, it is ultimately a time where players should celebrate. Bush has been striving for his NFL dream for 16 years, but the 22-year-old is not slowing down as he looks to turn his dreams into reality.
“It’s a super exciting time, talking to teams and seeing where I’m at,” Bush said. “ I talked with a bunch of teams at the Combine, the Pro Day was like four or five teams, and then three or four teams called me when I was in my car driving back home! I just need to continue working out and do what I got to do to make sure I sharpen my skills.
“I knew I wanted to make it to the NFL in middle school, maybe even younger than that. I started playing football when I was six years old, so I’ve always loved it and then you understand what it can bring at the end of the day. Why not do it if I love it?”
It’s a truly admirable mentality. Why not?
