J.T. Tuimoloau's long-awaited visit to Ohio State will come from June 18-20.
The five-star defensive end announced his official visit schedule on Friday. Ohio State's lone remaining target for the recruiting class of 2021 will visit the Buckeyes third, following visits to Washington (June 4-6) and USC (June 14-16) and preceding visits to Oregon (June 20-22) and Alabama (June 25-27).
No. 1 2021 recruit J.T. Tuimoloau announces June official visit schedule, via @BrandonHuffman https://t.co/fvGWUL5hC6 pic.twitter.com/MkJ1H8do25
— 247Sports (@247Sports) May 28, 2021
Tuimoloau made the announcement through an interview with 247Sports' Brandon Huffman, who reports that Tuimoloau is expected to make his decision in “either the final week of June or the first week in July and from there, Tuimoloau will head to the school of his choosing to get ready for the 2021 college football season.”
As for his interest in the Buckeyes, Tuimoloau told Huffman that starts with the opportunity to play for Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
“Coach Larry Johnson has a history and he has a long tradition of putting people in the league,” Tuimoloau told Huffman. “He knows what he’s doing and talking about. Talking to coach (Ryan) Day, we have built a strong bond with the both of them. Coach Johnson is considered the top of what he’s doing and he has a history and I've been able to watch it.”
While most members of Ohio State's recruiting class of 2021 have long been signed – 15 of them enrolled this spring, and six other summer enrollees have either already arrived or are set to arrive in the next week – Tuimoloau chose to delay his decision until he had the opportunity to make visits, which is finally coming with the end of the dead period in June.
Ohio State has long been viewed as the frontrunner to land Tuimoloau, who played with Buckeyes tight end Gee Scott Jr. at Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish, Washington. Alabama is also making a strong push in his recruitment, though – and will get the coveted final visit before his decision – while Washington, Oregon and USC will look to convince him to stay closer to home.
