J.T. Tuimoloau loses black stripe, 'officially' joins Ohio State brotherhood
COLUMBUS — It didn’t take long for J.T. Tuimoloau to prove he belongs at Ohio State.
Less than two weeks into his first fall camp with the Buckeyes, the 6-foot-4, 272-pound defensive end has lost his black stripe. He’s now officially an Ohio State lineman.
“First I want to thank God for blessing us,” Tuimoloau said. “With this game that we love. I’d like to thank the offensive line for pushing me and the D-line for holding me accountable every day and for [Buckeyes defensive line] Coach [Larry Johnson] for trusting me.
“Go Bucks.”
It’s been a whirlwind two weeks for Tuimoloau, who has impressed Ryan Day and his coaching staff with athleticism and attention to detail from the defensive end spot.
“The feedback I’m getting from Coach Johnson,” Day said Monday. “And from the other coaches in the meeting room, but then also what I see on the field, is a tremendous attention to detail. Very conscientious. Takes a lot of notes. Can take a meeting to the field in short order. And so because of that [Tuimoloau] made up a lot of ground in a very short amount of time.
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“You can see, certainly, the flashes of brilliance of a 272-pound defensive end who can run. But then when he does kind of know exactly what he’s doing, he’s made a lot of plays. And then we’re having a hard time blocking him.”
Tuimoloau is one of seven 2021 signees for Ohio State that arrived on campus with 5-star status. Fellow defensive lineman Jack Sawyer lost his black stripe in the spring as an early enrollee. The Buckeyes defensive line depth is as impressive as any program in the country but the young guys are making an early push for playing time. With uncertainty around the availability of Tyler Friday, they will have a chance to make an impact.
