HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 263
COLLEGE: Ohio State
CLASS: Junior
2018 STATS: 14 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 defensive touchdown, 1 forced fumble (3 games)
CAREER STATS: 77 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 defensive touchdown, 2 forced fumbles (29 games)
GAMES WATCHED (11): Oregon State, TCU (2018); Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Oklahoma, USC (2017)
| 40 | BENCH | VERT | BROAD | 3 CONE | 20S | 60S |
BALL GET-OFF (18/20)
- Very good first-step quickness; gets good depth out of stance in first few steps
- Generally times snap count well; can occasionally be a hair late with post-snap movement
RUN DEFENSE (19/20)
- Disciplined run defender that maintains gap responsibility
- Sets a firm edge; keeps outside shoulder clean to make tackles/pursue outside runs
- Good play recognition; reads and reacts well while engaged with blockers
- Great frontside and backside run defender; strength to hold up on the frontside, speed to pursue from the backside
- Reliable tackler in space or in traffic
- Generally takes good angles in run support; can occasionally give up the edge against elusive ball-carriers on cutbacks
TECHNIQUE (15/15)
- Elite hand usage vs. run and pass
- Wide variety of pass rush moves/counters: swipe/rip, club/rip, club/swim, cross-chop, long-arm, push/pull, bull-rush, outside step/swat, stutter-step/club
- Leverage — fires off the snap with low pad level on a consistent basis
- Excellent hand placement/arm extension when defending the run
POWER (15/15)
- Capable pocket-pusher with powerful bull-rush, long-arm
- Strong enough to hold up at 3-technique DT on obvious passing downs
FLEXIBILITY (9/10)
- Very impressive bend around the edge; can corner on offensive tackles at tight angles
- Great shoulder and ankle flexibility
- Lacks Von Miller/Harold Landry-level elite hip flexibility
RECOGNITION (10/10)
- Disciplined defender that doesn’t bite on play fakes
- Good awareness of trap blocks/pulling linemen
- Diagnoses plays quickly
- Reads offensive tackle sets very well; knows how and when attack them based on their stance
SIZE/PHYSICAL TRAITS (5/5)
- Powerful, sturdy build makes him a fit for 4-3DE or 3-4OLB
MOTOR (5/5)
- Effort is consistently outstanding
- Relentless pass rusher and pursuit defender
SPEED/AGILITY (4/5)
- Very good closing speed
- Fairly agile/fluid movement in space; able to redirect fairly quickly
RED FLAGS
- Core muscle injury in 2018
- Tore ACL as a high school senior
OVERALL GRADE: 95.00/100.00 — TOP 5 — generational talent; once-in-a-decade type of player
NFL COMPARISON: (more explosive) Joey Bosa
SCHEME FIT: 4-3 strong-side DE; can also play 4-3 weak-side DE, 3-4 OLB
DRAFT PROJECTION: Top-3 pick
“Nick Bosa is a rare four-tool edge rusher that can beat you with speed, power, flexibility and hand technique. With his elite run defense and pass-rush ability, he should quickly become a top-5 player at his position with the potential to average 12-15 sacks per year in the NFL.” – Dan Wussow
