Leave it to a former Oklahoma Sooner to call an Ohio State Buckeye a bust.
During a spot on Mel Kiper and Dari Nowkhah’s ESPN podcast, former Sooner and SEC Network personality Booger McFarland took a shot at Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa. In the interview, McFarland said that Bosa was an overrated player as the draft approaches.
“I start looking at a guy who’s probably gonna measure 6-3, 6-3 1/2, maybe 6-4 and about 265-270 pounds, I don’t know where you put him at,” McFarland said via College Spun. “I don’t see the type of production and the type of athleticism that I think is gonna translate to the NFL. I think he’s a bit overrated by this Kiper guy.”
Apparently his biggest reason is the fact that McFarland doesn’t think Bosa is versatile enough to play in various NFL defenses. He doesn’t believe he’ll fit in a number of schemes.
“[Bosa] had a lot of production at Ohio State, but when you look at how he’s gonna fit in the NFL, let’s talk about the positions that he can and cannot play,” he said. “Is he a right end and is he a guy that has elite speed that can turn the corner? I don’t think so. Can he play left end? I think left end in a 4-3 is a spot he could play.”
At the opposite end of the spectrum, though, McFarland was high on Eastern Kentucky end Noah Spence. In fact, McFarland likes Spence more than he does Bosa…because, you know, character clearly doesn’t matter.
”Noah Spence is the best edge rusher in this draft, and quite frankly, Mel, it’s not even close. You talk about elite athleticism, can turn the corner. The one thing Joey Bosa has is good technique, but technique with no athleticism I don’t think translates to the NFL. I think Noah Spence, whoever gets him is gonna get a guy that’s gonna be a Von Miller type. A guy that can be a 10, 12, 15 sack a year guy for a long time.”
Bosa is still likely to be a top five pick come April’s draft while Spence could jump up into the top 10. Who will be the better pro? Well, we’ll just have to wait a few more years to find that answer out.
