Not many people know Nick Bosa like Larry Johnson does.

The defensive line coach at Ohio State started his relationship with the 49ers' first-round draft pick before Bosa was even a member of the Buckeyes.

Johnson went on KNBR 680 on Thursday to talk about everything Bosa, including what he is going to be able to contribute to his new team.

"Nick has a high ceiling because he got all of this work early," Johnson told Larry Krueger and NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco. "His first step is wicked -- if you're not real careful, he'll go right by you.

"He's constantly concentrating on getting off the football -- laser focused -- and that's because he's trying to catch every snap he can."

Johnson also said he loves the idea that Bosa is going to playing wide -- something the defensive end loves to do. The 49ers are transitioning this season to a defensive front that features the wide 9 alignment for its defensive ends.

"I love the idea that he's going to play wide. He loves that," Johnson said. "Just have to be careful with how wide you play him getting to the quarterback. That's the key. He's got to do a great job of running the right angle and I'm sure quite sure Coach (Kris Kocurek) is coaching that right now -- the right angle to get to the quarterback."

That fresh start will be extremely beneficial to the 49ers, Johnson added.

Bosa hopes to establish a new reputation as well -- not that it's necessarily bad, of course. And least not as bad as it could have been.

Social media came back to haunt Bosa when he previously expressed his political views supporting Donald Trump and teased Democrats. He even criticized former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick when he chose to take a knee during the national anthem in 2016 during his protest of racial inequality.

He took those tweets down. He had to, he said to Kevin Van Valkenburg of ESPN.

"There's a chance I might end up in San Francisco," Bosa said before the 2019 NFL Draft.

Johnson told KNBR he was surprised by all the negativity Bosa received from the situation. He knew Bosa was being immature -- the defensive end himself admitted that.

"You're talking about a great young man as a person and as a kid and it's unfortunate that he's been defined by something that was said on social media," Johnson said. "He's a great kid, has a great heart."

[RELATED: Jimmy G says Bosa's social media past won't affect 49ers]

His former coach could tell Bosa was sorry about what happened.

"He will be a great teammate, he'll be a great locker room guy, and he will embrace the community well because that's who he is," Johnson said. "Nick has a big heart."