Ohio State DL Coach Larry Johnson Looking Forward to Watching Nick Bosa and Chase Young in Super Bowl LVIII

Larry Johnson said the success of former Ohio State defensive stars Nick Bosa and Chase Young in the NFL is an inspiration to current Buckeyes players.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson could not be happier to watch Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday.

The annual NFL championship game will feature two former Buckeyes: San Francisco 49ers defensive ends Chase Young and Nick Bosa. Johnson coached both Bosa and Young when they were at Ohio State and sees their success in the big leagues as a result of their mutual need to help each other grow.

"I think Nick makes Chase better, Chase makes Nick better," Johnson said. "They don't say it very much, but they are competing against each other, which is kind of cool. Nick's saying 'Okay, my boy's here now, I gotta up the ante a little bit.' So I think it's great that both guys are challenging themselves, but they're best friends."

Bosa and Young were both in Columbus at the same time, combining for six sacks in the first three games of the 2018 season. Unfortunately for the tandem, a core muscle injury forced Bosa out of action until he was drafted by the 49ers in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Johnson said the way Bosa and Young have been able to play at a high level in the NFL is an inspiration to current Ohio State players. Returning Buckeyes like defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and linebacker Jack Sawyer 

"There's a great testimony of two guys who've done it the right way," Johnson said. "And those guys see that, and they're watching too, now. They're watching and studying those guys...It just kind of gives those guys motivation like 'Hey, we can do this.' And I think that's pretty cool."

Bosa, Young and the rest of the 49ers will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with live coverage airing nationally on CBS.