From 1 battlefield to another: Bush makes move from soldier to IU defense

The two men were literally worlds apart.

One was defending his country in Iraq as a soldier in the United States Armed Forces. The other was defending ‘The Rock’ against high-powered Big Ten offenses. One had to worry about dodging enemy fire. The other had to worry about working his way through the offensive line to get to the ball carrier.

One went to bed wondering when he was going to be able to live his dream of playing IU football. The other went to bed wondering what he had to do to become a starter on the IU defense.

It was only a matter of time before their two paths would cross.

Kevin Bush, an Iraq war veteran turned IU football player, has motivated friend and teammate Darius Johnson on and off the field, and it is paying dividends for the IU defense.

If one were to look at Bush and see that he is a redshirt sophomore, they might assume that he is 21 at the oldest. He’s 25. The IU defensive lineman is not one of those guys just hanging on to a couple years of eligibility that comes back to play college football. Bush is far from falling into that category. 

As a senior at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Bush was an all-state selection as a quarterback and wide receiver. Bush said he always wanted to play football at IU, but the offer was not there for him.

Still determined to play college football, Bush headed to the University of Toledo.
But Bush’s first year at Toledo would be his last.

After not playing in a game as a freshman, Bush joined the Army in 2005. Two years later, Bush was deployed to Iraq. Instead of reading a blitzing safety, Bush now had to recognize a blitzing attack. Only this time, it was for his life.

Paying His Dues

Darius Johnson came to IU boasting all-state honors as a linebacker and running back at Highland Park High School in Detroit.

But like most true freshmen, Johnson was redshirted and did not see the field. That year allowed Johnson to learn the speed of the Big Ten from the sideline.

Later, Johnson would become all too familiar with watching games from the sidelines.

Johnson played the following year as a redshirt freshman in 2008. Johnson played in all 12 games for the Hoosiers either at linebacker or on special teams. With a little experience under his belt, Johnson became more active in the IU defense.

It was a year that Johnson recorded his first tackle and his first forced fumble.

He was a two-time IU special teams player of the week. The Detroit native started to show promise as a future piece of the IU defense. The only thing that would keep Johnson off the field for his sophomore year was an injury.

But Johnson stayed healthy playing on both sides of the ball in high school, and he stayed healthy in his first two years at IU.

That trend would not last for long.

Running Down a Dream

After serving a 14-month tour in Iraq, Bush came home in 2008. He had constantly wore an IU camouflage hat that matched his gear from head to toe. Even while he was in the line of fire, IU was literally on Bush’s mind.

There was one goal that Bush wanted to accomplish when he came home — play IU football.

Bush was accepted into IU for the 2009-10 school year. That was half the battle for a guy who admittedly struggled to keep his grades up in high school. The next step for Bush was proving he could still play after not competing in an organized game since 2003, when he was a senior in high school.  

He did not disappoint.

Bush made the scout team as a 24-year old freshman walk-on. The roundabout route to the IU scout team meant Bush would not see time in a game due to NCAA transfer rules and his minutes would come on the practice field.

But that did not bother him.

“For me it was just getting here,” Bush said. “I knew I just had to be patient and do my time. It’s like in the Army or here, you’ve got to do your grunt work.”

Two Worlds Collide

In preparation for their upcoming showdown at Michigan on Sept. 26, 2009, the special teams unit was reviewing kickoff coverage in practice.

Bush was on one side, determined to make every play in practice count. Johnson was on the other side, coming off a win against Akron in which he was named IU special teams player of the week. The two came barreling down the field determined to knock the other into oblivion.

Unfortunately for both, they succeeded.

Johnson and Bush smashed into each other so hard you could hear gasps from the observers. The hit sent shockwaves through a rattled Bush, but he did not get the worst of it. Johnson tried walking away but he could not help his drooping arm. His shoulder was separated. Johnson’s season was over.

But his relationship with Bush was just beginning.

As the 2009 season progressed, Bush and Johnson began to develop a friendship.
With both of them making the switch to defensive end, the duo spent more time together on and off the field. By the end of the school year, Johnson attempted to get out of his housing lease for 2010 so that he could room with Bush.

Although Johnson was not able to get out of his lease, the duo still spent plenty of time together under the same roof. Johnson and Bush lived with each other during the summer and have been roommates for all the road games this season.

Even during the week, the two hang out at each other’s houses. Whether it is looking up “stupid” YouTube videos, listening to their contrasting music styles or hitting the gym, the two have developed camaraderie off the field.

That bond has translated on the field in many ways this season. Johnson solidified himself as a starting defensive end this season, recording 43 tackles in eight games.

On Oct. 30 against Northwestern, Johnson’s 11 tackles were the highest an IU defensive lineman has totaled since Jammie Kirlew racked up 11 at Penn State on Nov. 15, 2008.

Bush said he believes Johnson’s success is due to simply being able to stay on the field.

“He’s back to being healthy and it shows on the field, obviously,” Bush said. “You look at the plays that he’s made and how he’s always around the ball at the end of the play. The biggest thing is just staying healthy because you can’t do a whole lot when your hurt and banged up.”

The duo had a chance to flex their muscles in front of more than 100,000 people at Ohio State on Oct. 9. With Johnson taking a breather on the sideline, Bush got his chance. Bush busted through the offensive line and teamed up with linebacker Leon Beckum to take down Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Not to be outdone, Johnson had a few words for Bush as he came to the sidelines.

“I told him as soon as he came out — all right, I got the next sack,” Johnson said.
Johnson was not kidding.

On the very next play, Johnson went in and sacked Pryor. It is that same friendly rivalry that has fueled the resurgence of this defense. The bond that these two have built has become obvious to IU coach Bill Lynch.

“I think that Darius has great respect for Kevin,” Lynch said. “(Bush) pushes him, but they talk, they communicate and they try to help each other. There’s just a good respect there, and that’s something that grows through the course of time.”

It was a short time ago that Johnson was adjusting to the rigors of riding the bench while Bush was cautiously riding around Iraq in a humvee. They have gone from being strangers living in opposite countries to buddies that spend the majority of their time together.

Bush’s role as the actual veteran leader has coincided with Johnson’s emergence as a playmaker on the IU defense. They are two guys challenging each other to get every ounce of greatness that they possess. And IU is reaping all the benefits.