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| Despite questions about quitting on his team, Nick Bosa could still find himself as the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draftt |
Nick Bosa, Jr., DE, Ohio State
6-foot-4, 263 pounds, #97
Nick Bosa was a five-star prospect coming out of high school,
having been ranked in the top ten overall by nearly every major recruiting agency.
Hailing from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Bosa was a two time State
Champion, a two time All-State selection, and an Under Armor All-American.
Bosa followed his older brother Joey (former All-American
defensive end and the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2016) to Ohio State. Like his
brother, both Bosa's father (John) and uncle (Erik Kumerow) were former NFL
first round draft picks.
While Bosa only started for one season with the Buckeyes, he
played a significant role as a true freshman on what was a defensive line laden
with NFL talent.
Bosa finished his Freshman season with 29 tackles, 7 tackles
for a loss, and 5 sacks. Those efforts earned him a spot on ESPN's Freshman
All-American Team, and he was also an Ohio State Scholar Athlete.
Following a Sophomore season in which Bosa notched 34
tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble., he was named
First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, and a First Team
All-American. Bosa was also named Academic All-Big Ten and a Ohio State Scholar
Athlete.
Bosa started out strong during his Junior season with 14
tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 touchdown in
just three games before suffering a core muscle injury that required surgery.
Given a projected 12-week recovery period, it was speculated
that Bosa could return in time for the Buckeye's game against rival Michigan,
or with Ohio State being a legitimate National Championship contender, for the
College Football Playoffs. However, Bosa raised eyebrows when he quit the team
shortly after his surgery to focus on his rehabilitation and training for the NFL draft.
With ideal size and athleticism to
play the edge in the NFL, Bosa should have no trouble playing outside linebacker in a 3-4
scheme or weakside defensive end in a 4-3 system. Having been situationally
moved along the line at Ohio State, Bosa also has the size and versatility to slide to the
interior on passing downs if needed.
Bosa uses a combination of speed and power to get to the
passer. While the speed rush is his primary move, he frequently attacks the
outside shoulder of opposing linemen knowing that he has the extra gear and
bend to beat his man and turn the corner.
As a counter move, Bosa is able to quickly change directions and attack inside with his fluid hips and a strong swim move in the event that opposing blockers cheat wide in order to try and negate his speed rush.
As a counter move, Bosa is able to quickly change directions and attack inside with his fluid hips and a strong swim move in the event that opposing blockers cheat wide in order to try and negate his speed rush.
Bosa should be strong enough to set the edge at the NFL level. His quickness and strength make him a disruptive force when it comes to getting penetration against the run. His strong grip allows him to bring down ball
carriers if he so much as gets a single hand on them.
Bosa was not asked to drop into coverage much at Ohio State, but he has the
athleticism to do so on occasion if needed. However, his elite pass rushing skills make
him better suited to play on the weakside and attack the passer on a regular basis.
If there is one criticism about Bosa, it is the concept of
whether he puts himself before his team.
While Bosa's family has stated that he likely would not have been fully healthy for the CFP's despite his initial 12-week projected absence (which very well may have been a correct statement), he had already left his team before he could legitimately know how quickly his rehab was progressing.
While Bosa's family has stated that he likely would not have been fully healthy for the CFP's despite his initial 12-week projected absence (which very well may have been a correct statement), he had already left his team before he could legitimately know how quickly his rehab was progressing.
If the prospect of competing for a National Championship, or
at least remaining with your teammates as they compete for a title, wasn't
enough to keep Bosa from packing it in, you have to wonder how he'll handle
playing on an expiring contract for a team that may not be a playoff contender.
Bosa very well may be able to address these concerns, but if
I'm a general manager and my job is ultimately on the line, I'm going to
thoroughly vet him on his decision making during the pre-draft interview
process...Especially since Bosa's family was actively vocal about his brother's holdout
prior to his rookie season.
NFL Comparison: Joey Bosa
NFL Draft Projection: First Round (top two pick)
