JT Tuimoloau is running it back.
Tuimoloau announced on Friday that he will stay for his senior season at Ohio State, where he will lead the Buckeyes’ defensive line room for the second consecutive season along with Jack Sawyer, Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton.
This past season, Tuimoloau collected 38 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks and two pass breakups across 13 appearances for the Buckeyes. Tuimoloau's performances resulted in first-team All-Big Ten recognition from the conference's coaches and media and consideration for the 2023 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.
A three-year starter, Tuimoloau made an instant impact as the No. 4-ranked recruit in the 2021 class, appearing in 11 games and recording 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one pass breakup.
In 2022, Tuimoloau became a sophomore standout for the Buckeyes. Much of his production from that season came in one of the greatest individual performances in school history – and college football history writ large. Tuimoloau recorded six tackles with three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, three pass breakups, two interceptions and one touchdown in Ohio State’s road win at Penn State.
For his Ohio State career, Tuimoloau has collected 83 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Tuimoloau joins a long list of players from the 2021 class who are staying at Ohio State for their senior seasons. Other members of his class who could have been drafted but decided to stay at Ohio State for the 2024 season instead include Sawyer, Williams, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, left guard Donovan Jackson and cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock.
#Rushmenforever https://t.co/2ElpclkAiU
— Larry A. Johnson (@R2X_Rushmen1) January 12, 2024
Ohio State now returns four of its top five defensive linemen from last season after Sawyer, Williams and Hamilton all decided to stay at OSU for another year. Defensive tackle Mike Hall is the only Ohio State defensive lineman who has entered the 2024 NFL draft.
Tuimoloau and Sawyer will lead a defensive end group that also returns Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Mitchell Melton and Joshua Mickens from last season. That group will be supplemented by five-star freshman Eddrick Houston, the No. 26 overall prospect in the 2024 class.
