Milton QB Bush transfers to Norcross

Norcross won the 2012 Class AAAAAA title going a perfect 15-0 while trusting the leadership and consistent play of quarterback Joseph Wilber. With Wilber graduated the Blue Devils are still loaded with talent, making them a favorite to claim the 2013 title. Replacing their senior QB was a question Norcross was going to have to answer heading into spring practice, but the arrival of Milton quarterback A.J. Bush changed that. Bush transferred the week before spring ball to play his senior season with the Blue Devils.

The 6-foot-4 dual threat quarterback is reported to have offers from Kansas State, Marshall and Troy. Bush led a Milton offense that averaged 34 points per game last season. Although the mid-semester move seemed sudden, Milton head coach Howie DeCristofaro explained that they had been prepared for this to happen.

“He [Bush] did not live in the [Milton] district and was given a third deadline and ultimatum by the county to move, or he would no longer be allowed to attend [Milton]. Finally the week before spring practice the decision was made,” explained DeCristofaro. “We knew for three or four months that this would be a possibility.”

Filling in at quarterback for Bush will be Cody Sant, Austin McLeod or Clint Winter who all shared reps in spring.

“We were hoping that one would separate himself,” said DiCristifaro “Summer will be huge for all of them.”

With a quarterback competition brewing rising senior Joseph Guilbaud’s role this summer will be one of the many that are increased, as the wideout catches from the three different candidates.

The 2013 Milton backfield is the strength of the team next year with RB Treyvon Paulk, who committed to Tennessee this past March, and rising junior RB Micco Brisker sharing carries.

On Aug. 16 Milton travels to Camden County for a scrimmage that will give the new starting quarterback a chance at quality reps before the season-opener against Alpharetta.

“Last year in the playoffs we were wide-eyed heading in,” admitted DiCristifaro on his team’s 27-20 loss to South Gwinnett.

“In the second half we finally played how we were capable of playing. This scrimmage will simulate that challenge for us.”

Battle testing his team and new quarterback before the season is something the head coach believes will benefit them. Last year Milton held a 42-0 lead in their preseason route over Forsyth Central, so a trip down to Camden County should definitely provide a bigger challenge.

DeCristofaro, who enters his third year as Milton head coach, has a background as an Olympic strength coach. He has quickly turned Milton into one of the strongest teams in the state since taking over, and Bush was one of the guys benefitting from the heavy lifting. Bush combines his sub 4.60 speed with a 400-pound squat max and has the type of athleticism that Norcross is familiar with. Bush played basketball as a two-sport athlete at Milton.

Before making the move, Bush was in attendance at the Rivals Camp Series held at Marietta High School on April 7. The Camp invited the best players from the southeast (GA, AL, FL, TN, SC). A total of seven Eagles attended, including Bush, Quarte Sapp, Chris Purpura, Brisker, Paulk, Nick Wilson and Chauncey Hazelton. The seven teammates impressed scouts and had recruiters ready to head to Alpharetta to monitor spring practice and see the group again. With winter workouts done, and spring practice a week away, it was released that Bush would be taking his talents to Norcross. Safety Hazelton is a rising senior and joined Bush in the move. Hazelton is 6-foot, 180-pounds and just recently started making noise on the scouting radar at offseason camps. Hazleton’s father is overseas and while living with Bush, district rules kept Hazelton from participating last season at Milton.

Norcross opens its season on Aug. 24 hosting Washington Miami, Fla. All eyes will be on Bush in his new role, as ESPN2 broadcasts the matchup. Playing on a national stage is something Bush got an opportunity to do last season. On ESPNU in 2012, Bush and Milton fell 27-7 to Walton in a late-season loss.

There have already been surprise transfers this offseason, with Wheeler’s Emmanuel Beal going to Hillgrove and Wesleyan quarterback Will Anderson heading to Lassiter. The season is less than three months away, but more transfers could still happen. It was July last year when Chris Murphy of Harrison made his move to Lassiter.