It's almost unfair the expectations Nick Bosa has to live up to at Ohio State. Almost.
“There's a standing offer for the Bosa family if they decide to have more children along their journey, they have a scholarship offer,” Urban Meyer said on Feb. 3, 2016, the first day he could talk publicly about the youngest member of a fabulous NFL bloodline and not get hit with a recruiting violation. The Bosa pedigree includes two-time All-American and No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft Joey, Nick's brother, No. 16 overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft John, his father, and uncle Eric Kumerow — who went 16th overall in the Draft a year after John following an All-American season at Ohio State.
A terror from the first moment he stepped on the field in Columbus, Joey Bosa thrashed opposing quarterbacks and ballcarriers to the tune of 26 career sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss in three seasons. The youngest Bosa isn't quite as tall as his brother and suffered a partial ACL tear his senior season at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
Yet he still played all 14 games for Ohio State in 2016, snatching five sacks to rank second on the team behind Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Tyquan Lewis in that category. With his first spring in the program almost in the books, line coach Larry Johnson isn't afraid to say something with confidence that is sure to excite fans.
“He's a year ahead for his progression,” Johnson said of Nick on Thursday after practice. “He's locked in and he's going to be a good player for us.”
Joey was the first non-quarterback taken in last year's draft. He was arguably the most dominant defensive player in the Big Ten for multiple years.
And Nick, still a freshman, is farther ahead in his development than when Joey only had 13 games under his belt in college? What?
“Nick probably got some things a little earlier than Joey did. I arrived late. Nick got a few things I gave Joey is freshman year,” Johnson said. “I think that makes a difference.”
That makes sense — Ohio State did not hire Johnson until January 2014. His work with the elder Bosa began thereafter and last for two seasons. He will have at least three full years with Nick to teach him the nuances of playing and becoming a force at defensive end.
“I feel like I've gotten so much better this spring,” Nick said.
“Keep in mind that I got here in the second year for Joey. So we had to change some things for him for the toolbox,” Johnson added. “Nick has been here, I'm here, so he got everything that Joey got as a freshman. So I think the advancement for him is going to be much faster.”
Nick Bosa didn't make nearly the same impact as his brother did his freshman season, at least statistically. Joey had almost twice as many tackles as Nick (44 to 25), almost twice as many tackles for loss (13.5. to seven), twice as many quarterback hurries (six to three) and his sack numbers were higher too (7.5 to five). But Ohio State didn't have near the depth on its defensive line in 2013 as it did last year. Joey had to play and eventually won a starting job. With Lewis, Sam Hubbard and Jalyn Holmes at defensive end, Nick didn't.
“Man, we’ve got four defensive ends that can start anywhere in the country. It’s a battle every play,” left tackle Jamarco Jones said. “Sam, Tyquan, Nick, [Jalyn] just rotating in every play fresh.”
That is what made Johnson's defensive lines so vicious first at Penn State and now in Columbus. He stockpiles as much talent as possible with the goal of developing it so he can rotate freely without a second thought. So even though some fans clamored for Nick to get more snaps last season, it didn't make that much sense with so many ends that can wreak havoc available.
“Nick has been here, I'm here, so he got everything that Joey got as a freshman. So I think the advancement for him is going to be much faster.”– Larry Johnson
Because that's where Nick wants to play — defensive end. He lined up inside in Ohio State's third down Rushmen package in 2016 alongside Holmes. Those two on the field at the same time with Lewis and Hubbard gave quarterbacks fits with their pass rush.
Nick, however, said recently he is working mostly at defensive end in spring practice.
“Outside is where I want to be. It's where I think I'll play in the future. I just like it a lot more,” he said. “I'm able to run and work my moves a little more. Get the guy moving.”
That is what made his brother, father and uncle so great before. Joey just turned it into an NFL Rookie of the Year season despite only playing 12 games after a contract dispute with the now-Los Angeles Chargers.
And while Johnson sees parallels between the two brothers — it's hard not to, Nick and Joey walk, talk and act eerily similar — their games are different. If only so slightly.
“There are some similarities because they're from the same blood so they're going to have the same bend, same hips, those kinds of things,” Johnson said. “Joey was a relentless player. He was a relentless player. Powerful. Nick is really finesse, a little bit more fast, smooth, he can transition through. But he's just a freshman, so we'll have to see where it goes from here.
“But I like where he's at right now.
The Bosa parents are assuredly done having kids despite Meyer's joking plea. But the youngest is already using that extra time for work with Johnson to his advantage.
“I just want to get better at everything. There is not one thing that I feel like I'm weak at,” Nick said. “I feel like I need to up everything I do and I think I have so far a lot. It's going well.”
