Illinois coach Ron Zook praises New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Nate Bussey
Published: Monday, May 23, 2011, 12:26 PM Updated: Monday, May 23, 2011, 1:09 PM
When I spoke to Illinois coach Ron Zook about rookie New Orleans Saints linebacker Martez Wilson last week, I naturally asked him about fellow Illini linebacker Nate Bussey, whom the Saints drafted in the seventh round.
Zook raved about the versatile Bussey, whose immediate impact with the Saints will likely come on special teams. Zook said Bussey embraced special teams in college, where he played on all but one unit for the Illini.
"Not only was he on all of them, he was the best on them," Zook said.
Bussey was listed at 6 feet 1, 219 pounds to start the offseason but bulked up closer to 240 before the draft. The Saints believe he can play linebacker in nickel defense formations, in addition to special teams. As a strong-side linebacker last year, Bussey ranked second on the Illini behind Wilson with 83 tackles and had three fumble recoveries and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown.
Bussey was a high school quarterback who began his college career as a defensive back before moving to linebacker. And he even made a cameo as a kicker in his final game at Illinois.
"We let him kick off at the end of the bowl game," Zook said. "He would do that in practice sometimes because he was always out there doing something. He did all the small things. That was something he wanted to excel in."
The T-P's Jeff Duncan also recently spoke with former Illinois linebackers coach Dan Disch about Wilson and Bussey. Disch is now the defensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi.
Source: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/05/illinois_coach_ron_zook_praise.html
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