Bears Sign Former Frosh All-American Edge TJ Bush Through the Portal
The Bears added another key piece to their portal class this weekend with the commitment of former frosh All-American Liberty University edge TJ Bush.
“My visit to Cal was actually my first, and it really set the bar high,” Bush said. “One thing that stood out immediately was how detailed and locked in Coach Vic was. We spent about two hours just breaking down my film, which really impressed me—it showed how invested he is and how much he pays attention to the little things. Coach Vic and Coach Sione (Sione Ta'ufo'ou - Assistant Defensive Line/Outside Linebackers) made me feel like family from the start, even though Cal is all the way across the country. That sense of comfort and connection made it clear that this was the right place for me.
“I also had interest from schools like UNC, NC State, Michigan State, WVU, Georgia Tech, Stanford, Colorado, and a few others, but Cal just felt different. The vibe, the people, the way they broke down my game—it all came together. I didn’t get a ton of time with the players, but the energy around the program was real, and it felt like something I wanted to be part of.”
The 6-3/260 rising junior was a former All-State defensive end in Virginia who put up a stellar 85 tackles, 33 tackles for a loss and 29.5 sacks in earning the 2022 Class 6A Virginia State Defensive Player of the Year playing for his state championship squad. Bush committed to Liberty out of high school after pulling in offers from Boston College, Vanderbuilt, Maryland and more before choosing the Flames.
In his two seasons for Liberty, Bush has totaled 90 Tackles, 16 TFL, 7.5 Sacks, & 9 passes defened through 2 seasons, also earning 2nd team all-conference as a soph in 2024.
He will join fellow edge Chris Victor with the Bears revamped pass rush through the portal this spring after Victor chose the Bears over Florida State earlier this week after his official vist.
Stay tuned for more about Cal’s 2025 Spring portal recruiting efforts to come. Both players have already signed with Cal.
Related:
Bears Make First Spring Portal Addition in Chattanooga Edge Chris Victor