COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Let's all be honest. Nick Bosa would be ready for the NFL. You know it. Opponents know it. He knows it.
"I think I would," Bosa said Friday after Ohio State's practice. "But an extra year of development is really important. I think I'll be a lot more ready next year."
He doesn't have a choice anyway. The defensive end is a true sophomore and the rules say you can't turn pro until you're three years out of high school.
So that means Ohio State next season will have on its roster what the Buckeyes have had many times a before -- an NFL-ready talent in college.
That talent is doing a lot of what his older brother Joey did at Ohio State before going as the No. 3 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft after his junior year. Nick was named the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year (an award his brother won twice) and earned a first-team All-American nod that landed him a tree in Buckeye Grove, where his brother is also honored.
"I get a tree next to Joey's," Bosa said. "We already got the spot. It's pretty awesome."
But Nick didn't get this season what Joey did as a sophomore in 2014 - a national title. So in 2018, the Buckeyes' defense will be led by a NFL-caliber player with a very particular goal.
"I felt the feeling of a Big Ten Championship and that was unbelievable," Bosa said, "so (I'm) just thinking about what it would feel like to be a leader on the team and win it and to be an integral part of a national championship game win, beat everyone, get to the playoff and win out.
"Next year my class is ready to take over the leadership role. I think we're going to have a really good chance. I know the defense is going to be set. That's No. 1 on my want-to-do list."
The Cotton Bowl matchup against USC on Dec. 29 is up first, and Bosa made certain to offer the necessary caveats about preparing for that game before indulging those asking about next year.
Because he's at the forefront of next year. Bosa was probably Ohio State's best player this season. Next year, he'll take a step beyond that ... toward that thing that's more than just playing well.
He'll take responsibility for trying to get this team back in the playoff. He knows that and admits to the greater leadership role he needs to accept. Bosas aren't really the rah-rah type, but Nick spoke of a more vocal style.
For instance, when asked if the defensive line, which will lose Tyquan Lewis, Jayln Holmes, Tracy Sprinkle and Sam Hubbard (who is obviously turning pro), could be as good as this year, Bosa interrupted the question and said, "Better."
That's how he feels about current freshman Chase Young and sophomore Jonathon Cooper, who should join him in only a three-man end rotation through two spots next year. He likes them. And he likes the idea of more of himself.
"I'm going to get a lot of reps," Bosa said. "I want to play every meaningful play in the game."
He liked how things went this year. He said he appreciates everything that's gone well for him in his career, and he has liked seeing his teammates succeed as well.
He would be ready if he could be done. But he can't be. So he'll be back. After watching film of his brother's three college seasons, he said Joey made the biggest jump between his sophomore and junior seasons.
"I'm not even close to where I could be," Bosa said.
He's pretty close to Joey. But he needs a national title to get all the way there.