Coming out of high school, JT Tuimoloau was one of the most hyped recruits in the 2020s so far. A 5 star recruit out of Sammamish, Washington, JT committed to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes on July 4th, 2021. Playing at Ohio State his whole career, he has continue to grow more and more
In 2023, JT was voted a first team All Big-Ten member by coaches and the media, since he earned 38 tackles (10 solo), 4 TFL, 5 sacks along with a fumble recovery. So far this season, he has 12 tackles (7 solo) and 3 sacks.
PLAYER INFO
Name: JT Tuimoloau
Jersey: No. 44
Position: EDGE
School: Ohio State
Class: Senior
HT: 6’5″
WT: 269
JT Tuimoloau’s Strengths
JT has not missed a game yet for the Buckeyes so he is durable. He has good size and frame to succeed in the NFL. He has great upper body strength, and it translates to him driving offensive linemen in the backfield. He has a knack for making the big plays at big moments (Penn State, 2022).
He has long arms and powerful hands, which he uses to his advantage against offensive linemen. He has good closing speed when chasing either the quarterback or running back down. He shows versatility by playing both the traditional defensive end with hand in the ground or standing up as an outside linebacker.
JT Tuimoloau’s Weaknesses
While he has a lot of good, there are areas where he can improve on. He has limited hip flexibility, which hurts him when he tries to bend the edge. His hand placement when trying to shed blocks is inconsistent. He doesn’t have elite burst at the line of scrimmage, and often relies too much on the power rush move.
Draft Projection
I believe JT Tuimoloau is better suited for teams that run a 4-3 type of defense that will allow him to play more of an traditional defensive end role due to his size. I see JT as a late Day 1/early Day 2 pick but can rise up draft boards with a strong end of season and combine.
Teams that run a 4-3 that he can fit well with: Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers.
