San Francisco 49erss DE Nick Bosa (97) - Scot Tucker/AP Photo
The 2024 Super Bowl is a couple of days away and there are two former Ohio State players participating. The game will be between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The two former Ohio State players are Nick Bosa and Chase Young. Here is a look back at these players, and what is to come in the big game.
Former Ohio State Players in the Super Bowl
The two former Ohio State players competing this weekend are both on the San Francisco 49ers. They also both played together with the Buckeyes. Now they will compete together to compete in the big game. Here is a look at both of these former Buckeyes.
Nick Bosa
Defensive end, Nick Bosa, will be playing in his second Super Bowl with the 49ers in just a couple of days. Bosa’s first season with Ohio State was in 2016. He earned Freshman All-American (ESPN) that year, according to Ohio State Athletics. In his three seasons with Ohio State, Bosa had 77 combined tackles, 47 solo, 29 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks, according to Sports Reference. He also had two passes defended, and one forced fumble. Bosa only played in three games in 2018, but he still earned four sacks. Bosa was drafted in the first round, with the second overall pick, in the 2019 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
In Bosa’s first season with the 49ers, he earned Defensive Rookie of the Year and made it to the Super Bowl. This season started a bit slow for him, but he played in all 17 regular season games. This season, Bosa had 53 combined tackles, 34 solo, and 16 tackles for loss, according to Pro Football Reference. He earned 10.5 sacks and 35 quarterback hits as well. As for turnovers, he forced two fumbles this year, recovering one of them. While the 49ers started slow against the Lions, Bosa is a big reason the team won, finally getting the pressure on Jared Goff when they needed it the most.
So far in the postseason, Bosa has six combined tackles, five solo, two tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits. He also has two sacks, both coming against the Lions. The 49ers will need Bosa to be the powerhouse they paid him to be. He lost the Super Bowl before, and he will not want to do that again.
Chase Young
As the trade deadline began to dwindle down, the San Francisco 49ers made a trade for Chase Young. The team wanted to build up the defensive line to not give opposing quarterbacks a chance to breathe. The excitement over the trade was also due to the Ohio State bookends being back together.
Young’s first season playing for Ohio State was in 2017. By 2019 he earned team captain. In his three years at Ohio State, Young had 98 combined tackles, 68 solo, and 40.5 tackles for loss, according to Sports Reference. He ended with 30.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles. He was a dominant player for Ohio State, which led him to be drafted in the first round with the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders.
Similarly to Bosa, Young also earned Defensive Rookie of the Year. This will be Young’s first ever Super Bowl. Young spent nine regular season games with the 49ers. This season, Young had ten combined tackles, five solo, and one tackle for loss, according to Pro Football Reference. He also had six quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks. Young has been under scrutiny following the NFC Championship. Many called him out for lack of effort. So far in the postseason, Young has six combined tackles, five solo, and one tackle for loss. Young needs to step up this week and give it his all.
Effort in the Super Bowl
Both Young and Bosa will need to step up this weekend. The 49ers defense cannot start slow the way they did against Detroit. Young, as stated, has been discussed a lot leading into this weekend. He will be up for a new contract, and teams will evaluate his effort when it comes to paying him. He may need to put in the effort just to be on the field this week. If the team can get Young to give it everything on the field, and Bosa plays at his top level, that 49ers defensive line will be hard to stop.
The Super Bowl will take place Sunday, February 11th. Be sure to watch these former Ohio State players to fight for the Lombardi Trophy together.
For a look at other former Big Ten players competing in the Super Bowl, see below:
Iowa players competing, click here.
Michigan players competing, click here.
Michigan State players competing, click here.
Nebraska players competing, click here.
Penn State players competing, click here.
Purdue players competing, click here.
Rutgers players competing, click here.
Wisconsin players competing, click here.
