Nick Bosa Selected Second Overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2019 NFL Draft

by
Former Writers
April 25, 2019

Eleven Warriors via Flickr and NFL Comm.

Nick Bosa Selected Second Overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2019 NFL Draft

Nick Bosa was a five-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bosa was one of the most highly-touted recruits in his class, attending The Ohio State University like his brother, the also highly-touted Joey Bosa. Nick Bosa played in every game as a freshman, though was restricted to a rotational role. He recorded 29 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks in that time.

Bosa’s Sophomore year is when he really blossomed, becoming full-time starter at defensive end. In his second season for the Buckeyes, he was named unanimously to the First Team All-Big Ten and won Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. He recorded 34 total tackles, 16 for loss, and a team high 8.5 sacks. His junior year was cut short after only 3 games due to core muscle injury and surgery, but was still able to record 4 sacks in that limited amount of time.

Nick Bosa: Prospect Profile

Bosa is a game-changing edge rusher with a high motor and unbelievable work ethic. Similar to his brother, Joey, Nick was nearly impossible to block coming off the edge. Facing double teams on nearly every play, he still managed elite pass rushing numbers in the Big Ten. Bosa deploys an explosive, ferocious bull-rush pass rushing style, bullying offensive tackles at will. He also has elite quickness off the ball and never takes a play off.

After Bosa went down with injury, the Buckeyes never really recovered. Ohio State looked vulnerable in many games and even fell to Purdue, destroying any playoff hopes. Nick Bosa truly has no flaws as a pass rusher. He’s as close to a sure-fire, guaranteed success as there is in the NFL Draft. Two glaring weaknesses, though, are his health and his run-stopping ability. Bosa was not a dominant force in the run game, mainly because multiple players were tasked to block him, minimizing his ability to reach the ball carrier. In addition, Bosa would often over-run a play, but was able to slow down the ball carrier enough to allow a teammate to clean up the tackle.

Nick Bosa will be an immediate impact starter in San Francisco and demonstrate his ability to wreck opposing backfields for years to come — just like his brother Joey, if not better.