Is 5-Star Nick Bosa a Lock to Join His Brother Joey at Ohio State?

Ohio State is hoping Florida 5-star defensive end Nick Bosa follows in his big brother's footsteps. USC is hoping to score what is shaping up to be a major recruiting upset.

As the nation's No. 2 strong-side defensive end, Bosa is a huge get for any of the dozen schools to offer so far. The 6'3", 250-pound bookend, however, is believed to be a commitment in the future for Ohio State, where he would join his brother, Joey Bosa.

The 247Sports Crystal Ball, as of early Tuesday afternoon, has Bosa confidently going to Ohio State.

How confidently? Of the 44 predictions for Bosa, all 44 say the Buckeyes will get his commitment. Few will disagree.

Bosa admits that Ohio State has a firm lead for the moment. The St. Thomas Aquinas standout told Ryan Bartow of 247Sports that the Buckeyes are "the top program right now," but the recruiting efforts of USC can't go unnoticed.

Bosa told Bartow that USC is recruiting him the hardest, which gives Trojans fans a little hope. Additionally, schools like Auburn, Alabama, Florida and Florida State could get unofficial visits soon.

"I'll figure it out after I take some visits," Bosa told Bartow. "I can't decide until I take some other visits."

Bosa received his Ohio State offer in November of 2012, his freshman year. Since then, he's made multiple trips to Columbus to visit his brother, take in some games and enjoy the campus environment. Bosa also participated in a football camp at Ohio State the summer before his sophomore year.

Bosa knows Ohio State well. He's built great relationships with head coach Urban Meyer and defensive line coach Larry Johnson as well as Mickey Marotti, assistant athletic director for football sports performance.

In short, Bosa is Ohio State's to lose—and while that may seem unlikely, it's possible if other schools impress him and the family in the coming months. They'll have their chance, as Bosa's dad, John Bosa, told Miles Joseph of Rivals that visits will come after his junior season.

"We're going to see Auburn, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford and some other schools," John told Joseph. "[Nick] wants to see a lot of schools. He's very comfortable with the guys in Columbus, but he wants to see a lot of other places, too."

The winning school gets an athlete who provides qualities similar to those of his older brother. Bosa is a strong, physical defensive end who has an explosive first step off the snap. He has a nose for the football, and while he's a likable guy off the field, he's an offensive lineman's first-rate problem on the field.

The question is: Will these schools have enough of a recruiting edge to bump the leader? Ohio State isn't planning on losing this battle.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles