Joey Bosa: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

All-America defensive end Joey Bosa has 13.5 sacks for Ohio State. (Getty)

All-America defensive end Joey Bosa has 13.5 sacks for Ohio State. (Getty)

At 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, Ohio State’s Joey Bosa certainly looks the part of a college football defensive end. And after a few minutes watching him on the field, you see he can play the part of a college football defensive end better than almost all of them.

The sophomore has been a nightmare for quarterbacks and offensive lineman (and running backs, too) for the 13-1 Buckeyes, who play No. 2 Oregon in the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship Monday night at Cowboys Stadium.

Here’s all you need to know about Bosa:


1. Bosa Has 13.5 Sacks This Season

Bosa has been sacking quarterbacks since he’s stepped on the Columbus campus in 2013. As a freshman he had 7.5 sacks, really turning it on in the last 5 games.

This season, Bosa has 13.5 sacks, which ranks him 5th nationally. He also has 20 tackles for loss. Both numbers lead the Big Ten by a wide margin.

The above clip shows Bosa getting the “walk off” sack in a double OT win earlier this year over Penn State.


2. Bosa Is a 1st-Team All-American

(Getty)

(Getty)

For his efforts, Bosa was named to the AP All-America first team.

Bosa lined up mostly at defensive end, the position he made on the All-America team, but he moved inside occasionally and was a stout run defender.


3. Bosa Is a Freakish Athlete

Bosa is lightning-quick off the line for someone of that size (6-5, 285). That quickness, along with brute strength and technique, is how he’s been able to pile up the sack numbers and be so effective against the run.

Bosa has run the 40-yard dash in the 4.7s.

And he can do a standing backflip. Take a look at the clip above.


4. Bosa Was a Top High School Prospect

Bosa played at Florida football power St. Thomas Aquinas. The all-state selection had 19 sacks over his final 2 years and won the Class 7A state championship his senior season.

He was ranked highly by all the major recruiting services – No. 38 (Scout), No. 47 (Rivals), No. 56 (ESPN) and No. 53 (247Sports).

Bosa chose Ohio State over Alabama, Florida State, Florida and Wisconsin, among others.


5. Bosa’s Father Was an NFL Defensive Lineman

(Getty)

(Getty)

John Bosa, Joey’s father, was a standout defensive tackle for Boston College and was a was a 1st round selection (16th overall) by the Miami Dolphins in the 1987 NFL Draft. He played 3 seasons in the league.

Joey Bosa’s uncle, Eric Kumerow, was a star linebacker for Ohio State from 1984-87, serving as a co-captain his final season.

Joey’s mother is Cheryl, who is an Ohio State graduate.