Injured Ohio State DE Bosa withdraws with NFL focus

Ohio State junior defensive end Nick Bosa intends to withdraw from the school to focus on rehab and training as he prepares for the NFL draft, the school announced Tuesday.

"I was hopeful that Nick would be able to return to play again for us," head coach Urban Meyer said in a statement. "I know this was an extremely difficult and emotional decision for Nick and his family, and I wish him well as he moves on to get himself 100 percent healthy and ready for his next chapter. I want to thank Nick for the remarkable efforts he gave for this program. He is a first-class young man who we have been honored to coach."

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The announcement came shortly after the Columbus Dispatch reported that Bosa and his family have decided to focus on preparing him for his NFL career rather than returning to play for the No. 2 Buckeyes this season. Per the report, Bosa met with Meyer and other coaches on Sunday to inform them of the decision.

Bosa had core-muscle surgery on Sept. 20 after being injured against TCU on Sept. 15, and Meyer said shortly after the surgery that Bosa would be out "a few more weeks, but we expect him back." However, Bosa's father, former Miami Dolphins first-round pick John Bosa, responded to those comments with a much different timeline, saying Bosa wouldn't be re-evaluated until November.

Widely considered a contender to go first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Bosa had 4.0 sacks and six tackles for loss in just three games this season, after posting 13.5 and 23.0, respectively, through his first two years with the Buckeyes.

His brother, Pro Bowl Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Ohio state. John Bosa went 16th overall in the 1987 draft to Miami out of Boston College.

--Field Level Media