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Scarlet Sunrise: Nick Bosa now leads NFL in sacks this season

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•12/17/22•

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San Francisco 49ers star pass rusher Nick Bosa, a former Ohio State standout, leads the NFL with 15.5 sacks this season. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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Former Ohio State DE Nick Bosa now leads NFL in sacks this season

Former Ohio State star pass rusher, and current NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Nick Bosa was a key part of the San Francisco 49ers’ 21-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks Thursday night. Bosa recorded three quarterback hits and a sack, moving ahead of New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon (14.5 sacks) to become the NFL’s 2022 sack leader with 15.5 sacks.

Bosa is the first player in 49ers history with 15 or more quarterback takedowns in two different seasons since the NFL started compiling sack data in 1982. Bosa reached 15.5 sacks last season, and he’s already hit that mark in four fewer games this time around.

Most of the headlines coming out of Seattle Thursday night were about San Francisco rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, who has risen from “Mr. Irrelevant” and third-string status to sudden stardom the last few weeks. But the 49ers defense — which has routinely allowed 17 points or fewer throughout its seven-game win streak — has been the story of the NFC West division champs’ season.

And Bosa is a flag bearer for DeMeco Ryans’ relentless unit.

Bosa finished his Ohio State career tied for 14th in program history with 17.5 sacks. Of course, his Buckeyes career was cut short because of a bilateral core muscle injury he suffered in the third game of the 2018 season that required surgery. His older brother, Joey Bosa — a pass rusher for the Chargers — is fourth all-time in the school record book with 26 career sacks.

URI transfer OT Ajani Cornelius reportedly visiting Ohio State this weekend

The Buckeyes arguably have the best offensive tackle pairing in the country right now in left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and right tackle Dawand Jones. Combined, that All-American duo — each set to have a tree planted in Buckeye Grove — has allowed just one sack and 14 pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

But Johnson and Jones are destined for the NFL.

So Ohio State is making a concerted effort to go after offensive tackles in the transfer portal this cycle. The Buckeyes have already offered three, most notably Rhode Island’s Ajani Cornelius: a 6-foot-5, 310-pound right tackle who earned first-team All-CAA honors for the Rams this season and is the top player at his position in the transfer portal.

Cornelius has already visited Nebraska and Oregon, and he’s set to visit Tennessee and Ohio State this weekend, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

Cornelius allowed just one sack and six pressures this season while registering a 91.0 PFF run blocking grade. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Buckeyes set to face UNC in Madison Square Garden

Ohio State’s nine-day break is over. It feels like forever ago that Tanner Holden hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer — and a controversial one at that — to beat Rutgers in the No. 23 Buckeyes’ Big Ten opener.

Ohio State (7-2, 1-0 Big Ten) will take on North Carolina (7-4, 1-1 ACC) in a CBS Sports Classic showdown at Madison Square Garden in New York City Saturday at 3 p.m.

UNC entered the season as the AP preseason No. 1, but a string of four consecutive losses dropped the Tar Heels out of the poll. They returned 69.1% of their minutes from their 2021-22 team, which was the national runner-up to Kansas — that ranks UNC 14th in minutes continuity this season, according to KenPom.

UNC is coming off back-to-back double-digit wins over Georgia Tech and The Citadel.

The game will be broadcast on CBS.

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READ: J.T. Tuimoloau spoke up when Ohio State was down

Counting down

Peach Bowl: 14 days away

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 343 days

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