Ohio State sophomore defensive end Joey Bosa doesn't necessarily agree with all the analysts who compare him with Houston Texans star J.J. Watt.
"When I watch him, I really don't see myself as much," Bosa told ESPN.com this week. "The style, the way I play, I feel like I get the comparisons because I'm a big white dude and he's a big white dude playing defensive line. He has a crazy motor, he's a physical freak, and, I don't know, I guess I just look at myself different."
At the same time, Bosa admits, "Obviously I appreciate all that to be compared to someone who just signed a $100-million contract in the NFL. I definitely can't complain about it."
Like Watt, Bosa (6-foot-5, 279 pounds) is known for his athleticism -- and his production. Bosa leads the Big Ten with 10 sacks, a figure that ranks sixth nationally. That has led to numerous opportunities for Bosa to do his signature "shrug move," which he breaks out when he finishes off a sack.
NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks wrote last month that "it's time to recognize the Buckeye standout as one of the top playmakers in college football."
Bosa has 6.5 sacks in his past three games, but likely will find the going tougher this week against Michigan State. While Ohio State coaches move Bosa around, even putting him at tackle at times, he will spend at least part of the game Saturday against Michigan State rising-star left tackle Jack Conklin (6-6, 303), a sophomore who is the Spartans' best lineman and one of the top underclass tackles nationally.
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio was asked Monday during his weekly news conference where he expected Bosa to line up Saturday.
"I'm not sure on that. ... He plays right, left, boundary, field and they do move him around," Dantonio said. "... He is an outstanding football player -- great, tough, active, great hands, powerful, relentless. Great football player."
Those are the same adjectives used to describe Watt, who often came up big in big games at Wisconsin, most notably a two-sack, three-tackles-for-loss performance in an upset of top-ranked Ohio State in 2010. Bosa needs that type of performance Saturday if the Buckeyes are going to pull the upset.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
