The Ohio State Buckeyes’ star is said to be a’shoo-in’ to leave in 2024.
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Every year, at least a few Ohio State Buckeyes take their skills to the NFL Draft. This season’s crop of prospects, led by Marvin Harrison Jr., will be no exception. Nonetheless, the son of a former Hall of Fame wide receiver isn’t the only future pro on the Buckeyes’ roster.
Another player who turns the heads of pro scouts is edge prospect J.T. Tuimoloau. The 6-foot-4, 277-pound defensive lineman is a former five-star recruit who had enough athleticism to draw a scholarship offer from Oregon to play college basketball too. Yet, Tuimoloau opted to continue polishing his skills at Ohio State, where he managed to see the field from the very beginning, playing in all 13 of the Buckeyes’ games as a freshman.
Tuimoloau’s seemingly been dominant ever since, especially against Penn State. Last year, in his sophomore season, he became the first player in the 21st century to record two interceptions, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, which happened against the Nittany Lions. Recently, he went toe-to-toe with Olumuyiwa Fashanu, a projected first-round offensive tackle at Penn State, yet Tuimoloau still recorded a sack and a tackle for loss.
Tuimoloau, who has four sacks and five tackles for loss in his junior year, is supposedly a “shoo-in” for the 2024 NFL Draft, according to college football source Tony Pauline. For the time being, he’s expected to be a late first-round pick, but Ohio State still has three games remaining in their season. Tuimoloau’s draft value could rise further if he finishes the season strong and does well at the NFL Scouting Combine.
