J.T. Tuimoloau puts exclamation point on Buckeyes defensive reload, reveals return for 2024

COLUMBUS — Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson referred to defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau as a “moment guy” earlier this season.

You don’t know when his moment’s going to come. But when it does, often in the game’s final hour, heads are turned.

Tuimoloau had the same captivating effect Friday when he seized another moment — this one off the gridiron but just as meaningful.

He announced his return to Ohio State for 2024, his senior season. In the process, he became the eighth draft-eligible Buckeyes defender to reveal he’s coming back for another year. Tuimoloau “reloading the clip,” as Ohio State players would say, is the exclamation point on a defensive reload for the program.

In returning, Tuimoloau joins…

• DE Jack Sawyer
• DT Tyleik Williams
• DT Ty Hamilton
• LB Cody Simon
• CB Denzel Burke
• CB Jordan Hancock
• S Lathan Ransom

Of those eight draft-eligible defenders who have decided to run things back, five are from the Buckeyes’ second-ranked 2021 recruiting class that is still eying its first Big Ten title. Of course, all of those players on that list are still searching for their first win over Michigan — even Hamilton, Simon and Ransom don’t have Gold Pants because Ohio State didn’t get to play the Wolverines during the 2020 season.

That has been a motivating factor for not only the defenders committing to another year with the program but also the two offensive starters who have already put the draft on pause: left guard Donovan Jackson and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.

As for Tuimoloau, he’s coming off the best year of his career. He finished 2023 with the most total tackles (38), sacks (5.0) and, per Pro Football Focus, pressures generated (37) as well as defensive snaps (677) of his three years at Ohio State.

Tuimoloau once again proved to be a difference maker for the Buckeyes. He made back-to-back stops at Notre Dame to force a Fighting Irish punt that set the stage for Ohio State’s game-winning touchdown drive in South Bend. Tuimoloau, notably, played all 65 defensive snaps in that win over then-No. 9 Notre Dame.

He also helped seal the deal in the Buckeyes’ next top-10 matchup, a showdown versus then-No. 7 Penn State. Whether it was snuffing out a screen pass in the first quarter, teaming up with safety Josh Proctor behind the line of scrimmage for a 3rd-and-2 stop in the third frame or his fourth quarter heroics, you had your pick of Tuimoloau’s game-changing plays.

The final two stuck out, naturally. First he sacked Penn State quarterback Drew Allar for a loss of eight yards, helping the Buckeyes get out of a pickle caused by a muffed punt. Then, on the next defensive series, Tuimoloau pressured Allar and deflected his 4th-and-4 pass from behind, turning the Nittany Lions over on downs. Six plays later, Marvin Harrison Jr. scored, and the Buckeyes increased their lead to 20-6.

Tuimoloau had five or more pressures in four outings this season, according to PFF, but all four of those performances were in the first seven games of the season. His linemate, Sawyer, surged in the back half of the slate. Both deserve some credit for the other’s success, however.

Tuimoloau — who hails from Edgewood, Washington, Seattle suburb — came to Ohio State as a highly-touted prospect from Eastside Catholic, which he helped win a pair of 3A state titles. So highly touted that programs like Ohio State were OK with him drawing out his recruitment until the middle of the 2021 summer, a mere two months before the start of his college career.

Tuimoloau took all five of his official visits but ultimately committed to the Buckeyes on July 4. After missing winter workouts, spring practice and part of summer conditioning, the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2021 class — according to the On3 Industry Ranking — wasn’t expected to see the field nearly as much as he did as a true freshman. Tuimoloau wound up logging 286 defensive snaps, notably eclipsing the 20-plus-snaps mark against Penn State, Michigan and Utah (Rose Bowl). He posted six tackles, two TFLs and one sack in those outings.

Tuimoloau clocked out with 3.5 sacks as a true freshman. Although he only matched that total as a sophomore in 2022, he increased his pressure count from 12 to 32, according to PFF. What’s more, Tuimoloau drew holding calls and double teams that don’t show up on the stat sheet while notching the most TFLs (10.5) of any Ohio State D-Lineman last season. His game-wrecking performance at Penn State still feels ridiculous: He caused four Penn State turnovers and, along the way, recorded six tackles, two sacks and two interceptions — including a game-clinching pick-six.

While Tuimoloau may never replicate that jaw-dropping day, he’ll have plenty more chances to be a “moment guy” for Ohio State now that he’s returning for 2024.