Ohio State’s Bosa and Elliot heading to NFL
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Thursday morning that his star defensive end would play his final college game in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame on Friday.
It’s been a relatively poorly kept secret that Bosa, a junior, meant to enter the 2016 draft early. Entering the season as a Heisman Trophy favorite, Elliott didn’t earn an invite to NY, though he had a comparable season to the running back who won the award, Alabama’s Derrick Henry.
“Three have already said they are going to leave: Zeke [Ezekiel Elliott], Joey and Cardale [Jones]”, Meyer said Thursday.
Jones reaffirmed his decision to leave to reporters Wednesday. “I know the pressures that are being put (on them)”.
“So I don’t know. It’s tough on them”.
“That’s the way it is”, Meyer said.
But, Meyer added, “I’d rather be in that situation” of having NFL-caliber talent on his team “than have a bunch of not-very-good players”.
There will still be a Bosa on Ohio State’s team in 2016, however.
After calling Kelly and Greg Schiano, the newly hired Ohio State defensive coordinator who was sacked two years ago by the Buccaneers, two of his closest friends, Meyer suggested it is not only former college coaches who have trouble succeeding at the highest level of the sport. Kelly said it’s not “tempting at all” while Meyer said he spends “very little time” thinking about the NFL.
Both coaches were asked about college coaches being tempted to join the National Football League ranks.
He didn’t have the same box score production in 2015 as he did in previous seasons, but that can be largely attributed to his getting double and sometimes triple-teamed during games. He could stay in the state of OH if the Cleveland Browns take him with their first round pick, which could be the second pick.