97.1 The Ticket -- There has been bad blood between Michigan and Michigan State for years.
But former MSU cornerback Justin Layne says there won't be any of that when he gets to Pittsburgh and joins his new teammates, former Wolverines Devin Bush and Zach Gentry. The Steelers traded up to draft the linebacker Bush 10th overall on Thursday night and then took Layne 89th overall in the third round Friday night. Pittsburgh added Gentry at tight end in the fifth round Saturday.
Colton Pouncy of The Athletic tweeted Friday night that Layne said it "would be great" to be teammates with Bush.
"I trained with him at EXOS and that's my guy. I can't wait to compete with him and win some games with him."
Layne said he has no animosity toward Bush for stomping on the Spartan.
"That's what happens when you compete and have a dominant competitor. I can't wait to compete with him, that's my boy. I have all respect for him."
Here’s Justin Layne on his new teammate Devin Bush: pic.twitter.com/CNYgBNYhtG
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy)
April 27, 2019 The trio of in-state players will all head off to a Steelers team in transition, where all three could be in the mix for solid playing time as rookies.
A handful of other in-state players have been drafted this week:
- Michigan's Rashan Gary went just two picks after Bush, 12th overall to the Packers.
- Central Michigan CB Sean Bunting went early in the second round, 39th overall to the Buccaneers.
- Michigan's Chase Winovich was taken 77th overall by New England and teammate David Long went two picks later to the Rams.
- Eastern Michigan DE Maxx Crosby was the fourth pick of the fourth round to the Raiders.
- Michigan State's Khari Willis got drafted 109th overall by the Colts.
