Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson joined KNBR on Thursday to discuss his former player who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, defensive end Nick Bosa.
Bosa played in just three games during his final season with the Buckeyes. He registered 14 total tackles, six for a loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble before his year and college career ended due to a core muscle injury.
"If he had stayed healthy through his last season, I don't know what the numbers would have been, but I think they would have been phenomenal with what he could have done," Johnson told Larry Krueger and Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, who was a guest co-host on Thursday.
Johnson said Bosa had everything you want out of a defensive lineman and always worked hard to improve.
Johnson believes one thing that makes Bosa so special is that he is always ahead of the game when it comes to his development. Much of that has to do with having Pro Bowl defensive end Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers for a brother.
"I think Nick has a really high ceiling because he got all this work early," Johnson said.
Nick has the benefit of learning from his older brother, who has always been a few years ahead of him in his development. Joey was learning techniques while at Ohio State when Nick was in high school. When Nick joined Johnson and the Buckeyes, his older brother was already learning from NFL coaches.
It also helps that Johnson teaches NFL-style techniques to his defensive linemen.
"Nick bought into all that because he saw the success that Joey had, so it was easy to sell," Johnson added.
Johnson believes Bosa's power and balance are aspects of his game that will make him an elite NFL pass rusher.
"He can hit the ground and generate power from the ground as fast as anybody I've ever seen," Johnson said. "That's why his balance is good because his feet are always underneath him. Most guys can't do that. Some guys are slipping and falling. Nick is bending and running to the ball — like, how can he get that low?
"It's crazy sometimes watching him do it. He's got great balance, great hips, great explosion, and that's what makes him special."
Bosa entered the NFL amid some scrutiny due to his past social media activity. It pained Johnson to see this former player dealing with the situation when he knows that's not who Bosa is.
"You're talking about a great young man as a person, and as a kid, and it's unfortunate he's been defined by something that was said on social media, rather than to find out who he is," Johnson said. "He's a great kid. He's got a great heart, and he's never had any issues here at Ohio State with players of any color, coaches, you name it.
"I have a great relationship (with Bosa) because of who he is as a young man, and it has nothing to do with color, and that's what Nick is. He doesn't see color. He sees people. He's got a big heart. He really does."
Johnson knows Bosa will be a great teammate, a fantastic presence in the locker room, and embrace the Bay Area community. That's the impression his new teammates have given off, too. Several 49ers players have come out in support of Bosa after spending the offseason with him.
You can listen to the entire 14-minute conversation with Johnson below.
