Fantastic Fifteen: Jordyn Bush embraces every role

LEESBURG — Jordyn Bush threw a 45-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game Friday night.

Later, on third-and-long, he took the snap, burst through the middle of the line and ran 7 yards for another touchdown.

Then Lee County changed quarterbacks.

So Bush changed positions.

And caught two more touchdown passes.

Four touchdowns. Three different ways.

For a player who has spent his Lee County career refusing to be defined by a position, it was a fitting way to begin his senior season.

Quarterback.

Running back.

Wide receiver.

Slot receiver.

Put Bush wherever the Trojans need him, and chances are he’ll find a way to make a play.

“He made plays at quarterback, made plays at running back, made plays at receiver,” Lee County coach Dean Fabrizio said after the Trojans’ 56-21 preseason scrimmage victory over two-time defending state champion Carver-Columbus.

“Just an excellent player.”

That’s why Bush is one of the Albany Herald’s Fantastic Fifteen players to watch in Southwest Georgia this season.

His versatility isn’t new.

Bush spent much of the summer taking snaps at quarterback after filling in admirably last fall when starter Marcus Snipes was injured. The arrival of Colquitt County transfer Cohen Lawson gave the Trojans another experienced quarterback and created the possibility that Bush could move around even more.

Friday night showed just how dangerous that could make Lee County’s offense.

Bush opened the scoring when he connected with Amari Weston for a 45-yard touchdown on the Trojans’ third offensive snap.

Later, facing third-and-long, Bush found a crease up the middle and exploded through it for a 7-yard touchdown.

When Lawson took over at quarterback, Bush didn’t disappear from the offense.

He simply became another weapon for Lawson, catching two touchdown passes out of the backfield.

It’s exactly what Fabrizio envisioned.

“Jordan Bush is a versatile and unselfish player,” Fabrizio said. “He helps us in so many ways — quarterback, running back, wide receiver. He plays wherever we need him to and he plays it well.”

Ask Bush where he wants to play, and his answer has never been complicated.

Wherever Lee County needs him.

That willingness to embrace any role stems from something deeper than football.

Bush hopes the game can open doors not only for himself, but for his family.

“I want football to help improve my family’s life,” he said.

That dream began when he was 4 years old.

Bush started playing flag football and immediately felt at home.

“I loved it from the beginning,” he said. “It just felt natural.”

Natural remains a good description for what he does on a football field.

As a junior, Bush rushed for 976 yards and 14 touchdowns despite moving between positions. His combination of quickness, vision and versatility made him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in Southwest Georgia.

Now he’s aiming even higher.

His goal for his senior season is 2,000 all-purpose yards.

College coaches have already recognized his unique skill set. Bush has committed to Mercer University, where he plans to study finance and marketing while continuing his football career.

Before heading to Macon, however, there is still something he wants to accomplish in Leesburg.

A state championship.

“I think we’ve got what it takes to make a serious run at state,” Bush said. “If nothing happens and we can all stay together.”

The son of Errica Jarrie and Derrick Bush has always enjoyed mathematics, his favorite subject in school, and approaches football in much the same way — solve whatever problem is in front of him.

Friday night against Carver, Lee County kept presenting him with different ones.

Throw it.

Run it.

Catch it.

Bush had an answer for every one.

The position changed.

The result didn’t.