WATCH: Texas LB Jett Bush awarded scholarship

With four former walk ons on scholarship entering game week, the Texas Longhorns don’t have as many open slots to use for the annual tradition of awarding scholarships to walk ons, but there was a scholarship available for a deserving player.

So head coach Tom Herman got on the phone on Tuesday with the parents of sophomore linebacker Jett Bush to give them the good news.

“I know parents always get nervous when the head coach calls, but this is a good one,” Herman told Mark and Amy Bush. “We’re gonna put Jett on scholarship.”

Bush’s father told the Texas head coach that the news would make his son’s life because he plays football like every play will be his last.

It’s a quality that clearly endeared Bush to the Texas coaches. A one-time New Mexico State commit out of Houston’s Strake Jesuit, Bush was a high two-star prospect in high school who also held offers from a number of Ivy League schools. When the Longhorns offered Bush a preferred walk-on spot in January of 2019, Bush jumped on the opportunity.

The 6’2, 235-pounder made an impact quickly, appearing in four games on special teams during his true freshman season, a rare accomplishment for a walk on.

This year, Bush could see playing time on defense — he’s currently listed as the co-backup to junior Joseph Ossai at the Jack position along with junior Reese Leitao, the former tight end.

After Herman spoke with Bush’s parents, he enlisted to Mark to inform his son during a team meeting.

“I can’t thank y’all enough for always supporting me and always helping me out every day,” Bush told his teammates. “You know, I’ve been thinking about this — it’s what will help motivate me every day, every practice. But, seriously, having y’all as my teammates, having y’all as my family, I wouldn’t want anybody else. Love y’all. Hook ‘em.”