Ohio State football: Nation’s top recruit sets OSU visit
By Del Barris
The Ohio State football team is readying to have the top remaining recruit in the 2021 class visit campus in mid-June.
The nation’s top recruit in the 2021 class has announced which lucky schools he will visit in June. None are surprises. Defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau of Eastside Catholic in Sammamish, Washington will take trips to Washington, USC, Ohio State, Oregon, and Alabama next month.
His tour begins next weekend at Washington before he starts a whirlwind of three schools in a little more than a week. Tuimoloau will be in Columbus June 18-20. The Buckeyes are sandwiched between USC and Oregon. He’ll visit Alabama June 25-27.
Some media members who cover the Buckeyes on a regular basis are losing their minds over Tuimoloau visiting Alabama last. Tide head coach Nick Saban has taken over recruiting him. They feel it is now a done deal and his commitment to the Tide is a foregone conclusion.
Let’s all just calm down, ok? This is a long way from being decided. 247 Sports recruiting expert Brandon Huffman still has the Buckeyes leading, but he admits he gives a low confidence level. Huffman talked to Tuimoloau about each of the programs he will visit. This is what he said about Alabama,
"“Just getting to talk to coach (Nick) Saban and coach (Freddie) Roach, and the culture that Bama has, its always been up there. Getting to talk with coach Saban more, talking with him frequently, he has a history, and I like what he’s doing and is continuing to do.”"
His comments on the Tide are very similar to what he said about Washington, USC, and Oregon. Now take a look at his comments on the Buckeyes,
"“Coach Larry Johnson has a history and he has a long tradition of putting people in the league. 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.”"
So, maybe it’s just me, but I can see why the Ohio State football program is still considered the leader. Even if it is a very slight lead, it is still a lead.
Keep this in mind as well. Ohio State is the only program he has yet to visit. Tuimoloau has taken unofficial visits to the other four and has seen what they have to offer. There isn’t a whole lot they are going to be able to do to change the opinion he has of them already.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State football program can only add to their standing with Tuimoloau and will do so with the help of his former high school teammate and current Buckeye, Gee Scott, Jr. Don’t underestimate the behind the scenes recruiting Scott is doing.
He, along with true freshman receiver Emeka Egbuka, a native of Washington as well, can give Tuimoloau an inside look he’s not gotten at other schools. This is a big plus for the Buckeyes.
The battle for the services of the 6’4 ½”, 277-pound Tuimoloau is so intense because the feeling is he’s a ready-made player and will be able to step in and play immediately. The Buckeyes are loaded at defensive end right now but will lose nearly all of their depth after this season. Tuimoloau and fellow true freshman Jack Sawyer would give the Buckeyes an intimidating pairing in the coming seasons.
While there is some truth to the belief the school that gets the last visit of a recruit gets the commitment, I’m choosing to listen to the guys who make a living at tracking recruiting. Brandon Huffman has been correct on nearly 96% of his predictions in his career and almost 97% for the 2021 recruiting cycle.
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That’s good enough for me. Buckeye fans are going to sweat this one out, but until Tuimolau indicates otherwise, I’m going with Huffman’s assertion the Ohio State football program is still the leader.