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What the return of J.T. Tuimoloau means for Ohio State
The Buckeyes get another top defensive end back in 2024.
247sports.com
What the return of J.T. Tuimoloau means for Ohio State
The Buckeyes get another top defensive end back in 2024.
When J.T. Tuimoloau committed to Ohio State on July 4, 2021, he likely wasn't thinking about where he'd be three and a half years from that moment. If the thought did cross his mind, the vision likely involved leaving the Buckeyes with a bang and heading to the NFL. But things don't always go according to plan... or at least not exactly how you plan them..
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If Tuimoloau had elected to leave for the NFL, the memories would quickly turn to his performance at Penn State in 2022 when he recorded six total tackles, three tackles for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and scored a touchdown. It was the kind of performance that can't be matched but sets the bar. And while Tuimoloau had other impactful moments, they didn't always show up on the stat sheet. Ohio State doesn't win at Notre Dame this season without two late big plays, for instance.
This is not to downplay the importance of Tuimoloau's return. He remains one of the few defensive linemen in college football who can take over a game on his own. His rare combination of size and athleticism allows him to do things that most defenders cannot, not to mention most defensive linemen. While Tuimoloau is never going to be a pure pass rusher in the mold of the Bosa brothers or Chase Young, he still has 83 total tackles, 22 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks and has been named first-team All-Big Ten twice in three seasons with the Buckeyes. Tuimoloau will hope to cap his college career with his best season in 2024.
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Regardless of how Johnson elects to divide up the snaps, Tuimoloau's return is important for a defense that was one of the best in the country in 2024 and has nearly all of its pieces coming back next season. As a senior, Tuimoloau can continue to improve, giving the Buckeyes another experienced player back who at his best can wreck games and even when he isn't at his peak is still a concern for opposing offensive lines and a threat to make a play. Pairing him with Sawyer, who played his best football at the end of the year, Curry and Jackson should lead to more production from the Scarlet and Gray's edge rushers.
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