University of Minnesota Athletics

2020 Football Roster

Thomas Rush
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Defense
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Otomewo Esezi Rush Thomas
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Rush_Thomas
Jersey Number 8

Thomas Rush

  • Position:
    LB
  • Ht./Wt.:
    6-3 / 245
  • Hometown:
    Marysville, Ohio
  • High School:
    Marysville
  • Letters:
    3
  • Class:
    Junior
PRONUNCIATION

HONORS:
NFLPA Bowl (2023) 
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2022, media)
Academic All-Big Ten (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)
Quad Team Member (2019)

2022: Started all 13 games • made 34 tackles (20 solo) • had 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks • broke up two passes and forced one fumble. Game-by-Game: Made three tackles and had one sack against New Mexico State • had two tackles against Western Illinois • had two tackles against Colorado • had four tackles and forced one fumble at Michigan State • registered three tackles and broke up one pass against Purdue • recorded two tackles at Illinois • made four tackles at Penn State • totaled one tackle against Rutgers • had half of a sack and made three tackles at Nebraska • made one tackle against Northwestern • registered five tackles against Iowa • made one tackle at Wisconsin • totaled three tackles and had one tackle for loss against Syracuse.

2021 SENIOR SEASON: Started five of 13 games • recorded 31 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks • broke up one pass. Game-by-Game: Made two tackles against Ohio State • recorded two tackles including 0.5 tackles for a loss against Miami (OH) • registered three tackles, including two for a loss, and two sacks at Colorado • totaled three tackles, including one for a loss, and one sack against Bowling Green • notched three tackles, including 0.5 tackles for a loss, and 0.5 sacks at Purdue • made three tackles, including one tackle for a loss, against Nebraska • registered three tackles, including one sack and one tackle for a loss, against Maryland • totaled two tackles at Northwestern • made three tackles against Illinois • saw action at Iowa • recorded one tackle at Indiana • broke up one pass and notched five tackles against Wisconsin • made two tackles against West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

2020 JUNIOR SEASON: Played in seven games • made 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Game-by-Game: Started against Michigan and made three tackles • made three tackles, including 0.5 sacks, at Maryland • registered two tackles at Illinois • lone tackle against Iowa was a tackle for loss • made three tackles against Purdue, including one tackle for loss • recovered one fumble at Nebraska • made one tackle at Wisconsin. 

2019 SOPHOMORE SEASON: Played in all 13 games and started one • made three tackles. Game-by-Game: Made first career start and recorded two tackles against South Dakota State • saw action against Fresno State and Georgia Southern • broke up one pass and made one tackle against Purdue • competed against Illinois, Nebraska, Rutgers, Maryland, Penn State, Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Auburn. 

2018 FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in all 13 games and made five tackles. Game-by-Game: Notched three tackles and one sack in collegiate debut against New Mexico State • saw action against Fresno State, Miami, Maryland, Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois • recorded one tackle against Purdue • competed against Northwestern and Wisconsin • notched one tackle in Quick Lane Bowl victory against Georgia Tech. 

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Marysville High School in Marysville, Ohio • wore No. 27 for the Monarchs • played linebacker and running back and was named First Team All-Central District in 2017 • as a junior, rushed 261 times for 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns • named First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Region and Special Mention All-Metro • coached by Morgan Cotter and Brent Johnson • consensus three-star recruit • No. 58 ranked outside linebacker in his class and No. 38 recruit in Ohio by 247Sports • enrolled at Minnesota in January 2018. 

PERSONAL: Son of Lana and the late T.R. Rush.
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Rout Demons
Tuesday, September 09
Highlights: Gophers 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, September 06
Sights & Sounds: Gophers-Demons
Saturday, September 06
Game Trailer: Gophers-Demons
Friday, September 05