COLUMBUS, Ohio – Joey Bosa was already intimidated before Nick Saban called him into his office after that camp in 2010.

Think about it. Bosa was only a 15-year-old kid, he had no scholarship offers ... and he wasn't wearing a shirt.

"They're pretty serious, intimidating guys, especially when you're 15 years old sitting in Saban's office," Bosa said. "Then he pushes this button that automatically closes his door."

Who has a button that automatically closes a door? It's like something out of a movie, but when you're on Saban's time none is wasted – even a few seconds to shut a door – because there's more important business to attend to.

Like offering Bosa a scholarship, his first offer before the former five-star prospect from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas became one of the most heavily recruited players in the country.

"He was like, 'Get the kid a towel,' so I had a little towel over my shoulders," said Bosa, who recalled shivering at the time, maybe because he was nervous. "I heard about the door, he just clicked (the button) and it shut. I was pretty scared."

Awkward pause.

Joey Bosa, now a dominant defensive end for Ohio State, got his first scholarship offer from Nick Saban and Alabama.

"It was a super nice door," Bosa added, letting that sarcastic personality out a little bit to lighten the mood.

OK, forget about the door now.

Bosa was overcome with emotion. He was a young, impressionable kid who left the camp with his father, John, a former NFL player with the Miami Dolphins, and went to Buffalo Wild Wings for food.

Still coming off the emotional high from just earning a scholarship from one of the most successful coaches in college football, Bosa almost made a decision that would have changed everything about this Ohio State team.

"I almost committed there," Bosa said of Alabama. "I almost went back and committed that day. But we flew home, thought about it, and now I'm here."

It would have made so much sense if Bosa went to Alabama. The Crimson Tide were on top of college football, they were led by Saban and it was a lot closer to his South Florida home than cold Columbus.

But that's when Urban Meyer stepped in. Using Bosa's connection to Ohio State – Bosa' uncle is former Buckeyes star and first-round NFL draft selection Eric Kumerow – Meyer sold his program.

Urban Meyer's first signature get on the recruiting trail at Ohio State was five-star defensive end Joey Bosa.

As the scholarship offers went up, Bosa had a lot to consider. Alabama never went away, but there was something about Meyer that made Ohio State seem like the best fit. Then the Buckeyes landed him.

"Obviously playing in Miami and seeing all those freak athletes, that's where you need to be down recruiting," Bosa said. "Coach Meyer is just a really good recruiter. He's going all over the place and getting the best players."

If Bosa would have gone to Alabama, it's hard to imagine the Buckeyes would be facing the Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl, a semifinal game for the inaugural College Football Playoff. It's funny, because Bosa isn't what you'd think about when the idea of "SEC talent" comes to mind.

That's more about the skill position players, right? You know, that "SEC speed" and highlight reel-worthy runs? That's a part of it, sure, but building an SEC roster in the Big Ten is landing players like Bosa, the ones who have a profound impact on each game because of pure dominance in the trenches.

Ohio State fans have fallen in love with the patented Joey Bosa shrug.

By now, Ohio State fans now how good Bosa is. He had 13.5 sacks this year before becoming the Buckeyes' 27th a unanimous All-American. He's a standout. You get it.

But imagine for a second if he were Alabama's. The Crimson Tide are already perceived as a juggernaut, but with Bosa? Unbeatable.

Bosa is at Ohio State, though, the original SEC talent Meyer brought up to the Big Ten, before the Vonn Bells and the Raekwon McMillans.

Ohio State is an SEC team in the Big Ten.

"What is SEC-caliber, really?" Bosa asked. "Big Ten-caliber, how about that? I think Coach Meyer was looking for that speed and big, big athletic fast guys. That's what we've got on the D-line and all around."

And that's why Ohio State has a chance to win a national title.