Former Ohio State Buckeyes EDGE Joey Bosa lived in isolation as he wound down his college career before the San Diego Chargers selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Joey Bosa’s Isolated College Life Before NFL Stardom
In an article by Joan Niesen, the SI Campus Rush reporter at the time, Bosa told her, “I never really loved being in the spotlight. I was never that kind of person. I pretty much like sitting in my apartment, being in a dark cave for hours. If I spend the whole day there, I have no problem with that. I’ve got a tight circle, and I’m not letting many people into my life.”
Bosa received a suspension in the 2015 season after a game against Virginia Tech. As Business Insider reported, “hundreds of conversations with Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and his family to live by himself and spend what little free time he had at home.”
Neisen also revealed that the apartment “was furnished with little more than an Xbox, DVDs, football gear, clothing, cooking utensils and the minimum amount of stuff needed to survive.”
To pass the time, Bosa spent hours playing video games and cooking Italian food his mother had taught him to make.
In his final season at Ohio State, Bosa had five sacks, 51 tackles, and 16 tackles for loss.
His college career included two first-team All-American nods, two Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year Awards, and a national championship victory.
𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘬-𝘖𝘧𝘧 𝘚𝘢𝘤𝘬 😤#OTD in 2014, Joey Bosa’s highlight sack sent @OhioStateFB to a 2-OT win at Penn State. pic.twitter.com/GRFSvGoWjz
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) October 25, 2023
After being drafted by the Chargers, Bosa didn’t suit up for the first four games due to a contract dispute but had a strong debut. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie Team.
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On March 5, 2025, the Chargers released Bosa, ending his nine-year run with the franchise.
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