If you were to strip away the name and replace an image of San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa with a computer-generated image — say a Madden Create-A-Player before you got started — it’s pretty easy to mistake him for Chase Young.
Both players went to Ohio State where they became dominant at the position; Bosa was drafted No. 2 in 2019 despite being the top-rated player, going after Kyler Murray — the Heisman-winning QB — was drafted No. 1. Bosa was drafted to the 49ers, who didn’t have an excessive need at the D-line position, with several veterans already there. Still, they took him because of the incredible value he brought, and he helped lead them to a Super Bowl appearance in his rookie season. All of those same things can be said for Young and the Washington Redskins, excluding the prediction of a Super Bowl appearance in 2020. While at Ohio State, Young has been able to look to his former teammate as a blueprint for his leap to the NFL was made, and try to learn from what Bosa did right.
The two have stayed in touch during the process as well, and Bosa now feels like he can offer a solid scouting report on Young if coaches called upon him.
“I’d tell them he’s got Jadeveon Clowney’s athletic ability, with Coach Johnson’s tutelage. And that’s a pretty scary combination,” Bosa said, via The Athletic. “And what makes him different than most people like him is he is super hungry to be the best.”
Bosa goes on to detail Young’s intense work ethic, crediting much of his success in college to his commitment to staying in the gym and putting in the extra reps. He knows that if Young keeps that same intensity in the NFL, there’s no chance he will bust.
“I’ve seen tons of guys in college who just don’t go into practice or spring ball or even the season — they don’t look for things to make them better. And Chase is every day asking me, “Watch this rep. Tell me what you think.” Sending me film,” Bosa said. “He’s really similar to me and Joey [Bosa] work-ethic wise. We all just want to be the best. I mean, you couldn’t go wrong picking him.”
While work ethic and intensity in practice are a couple of things that Young can control, there are going to be several more that he can’t when he gets to the NFL. That’s something that Bosa learned last year and something that Young will learn in a few months’ time as well. Players will be better, games will be harder, and scrutiny will be ever-looming.
“There are better players, obviously,” Bosa said. “There are some games where you see the tackles he’s going against (in college) and it’s a complete joke — to see him running around these kids like they’re standing still. And you don’t run into anyone like that in the NFL. Once you get to the NFL, you’re facing a beast every week for the most part.”
The competition will rise, but if Bosa’s scouting report is accurate, it seems like Young will be able to rise above it. In Washington, we’ll all get to witness it happen, and hopefully, sit back and watch as Young eventually checks of the last box in the Nick Bosa Path to Success and helps the Redskins to a Super Bowl appearance.
[vertical-gallery id=33605]