CHICAGO — Big Bear is headed to Cali.
The San Diego Chargers selected Ohio State junior defensive end Joey Bosa with the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft Thursday, officially capping his illustrious college career with top-5 merit.
Bosa is the first Ohio State defensive lineman taken in the first round of the draft since the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Cameron Hayward 31st overall in 2011. Before Bosa, Vernon Gholston was the last Buckeye defensive lineman taken in the top-10, when the New York Jets took him sixth in 2008.
The two-time Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, Bosa patrolled the line of scrimmage for Urban Meyer's Buckeyes for three seasons. He led the team with 13.5 sacks during its run to the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship in 2014 and finished with 26 sacks in 42 career games. Bosa also led the Buckeyes in tackles for loss his sophomore and junior seasons with 21 and 16 respectively.
Bosa performed well at the 2016 NFL Combine in February, finishing among the top five of all defensive linemen in the broad jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle while showing the necessary agility as both a pass rusher and willingness to drop into coverage as an outside linebacker.
One of the more dominant defensive linemen in the country during his time at Ohio State, Bosa is the lone Buckeye on the Chargers roster.
