Ohio State football: Tuimoloau and the state of OSU defensive ends

The Ohio State football team would have perhaps the best set of defensive ends in the country if they are able to grab J.T. Tuimoloau. What’s the future look like for that position?

After canceling his official visit to Alabama and announcing he will choose between Ohio State, Oregon, USC, and Washington, you can’t help but wonder how defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, the nation’s top-ranked player in the 2021 recruiting class, would fit with the Buckeyes if he commits to them. IF.

To say the defensive ends room at the Ohio State football program is crowded is a gross understatement. The Buckeyes are loaded at this position. Tyreke Smith, Tyler Friday, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste are all seniors. They’re joined by junior Zach Harrison. All have extensive playing time. Throw in true freshman Jack Sawyer, who looks like a star in the making, and you can see how deep the Buckeyes are on the edges of their defensive line.

The thing to consider here is, while things are crowded this year, that probably won’t be the case in 2022. I’m certain two of the four upperclassmen will be gone, and there is a good possibility it will be three. I don’t think you’ll see all four leave.

One will take advantage of the extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted because of the COVID-affected 2020 season. I think without question the Buckeyes are going to be getting thin at this position after this season.

So, back to the question I posed in the first paragraph. How does J.T. Tuimoloau fit into this group? From a physical standpoint, he would be the heaviest at 277 pounds. Harrison is 268; Noah Potter is 270. Sometimes you worry about young defensive ends being too light and getting overpowered by far bigger offensive linemen. That’s certainly not the case with Tuimoloau. The feeling is he can add more weight to that 6’4 ½” frame.

The next question to be answered is where would he fit in the rotation? I’m going to go out on a limb here. If the speculation is correct and he can step in and play immediately for any program, Tuimoloau will be at least the number three guy in the rotation.

I think he’ll surpass Friday and Jean-Baptiste, along with fellow true freshman Jack Sawyer, who I think will get his fair share of playing time. He may not start out high in the pecking order, but by the middle of the season, I expect to see him on the field a lot.

Is there a concern about Tuimoloau? Yes. It is he’s joining the program so late, he’s not going to be ready to contribute much this season. Because he has waited so long to make a decision on a school, he’s missed a great deal of strength and conditioning work.

By the time he joins the program, he won’t have much time with OSU conditioning guru Mickey Marotti. I’d love to see him have a couple of months with Marotti, but it is going to be more like a few weeks if he joins the Buckeyes.

Tuimoloau is important from a talent standpoint, but getting his commitment is needed from a depth viewpoint as well. As I mentioned earlier, the Buckeyes are going to be getting thin at this position sooner rather than later.

After those four upperclassmen and Sawyer, there is Potter, a redshirt sophomore, and walk-on Aaron Cox. There are a few guys who could be moved from defensive tackle, but you’re still looking at an impending depth problem. You can see why Ryan Day and his staff are doggedly pursuing defensive ends to add to the 2022 recruiting class. So far, there is not one committed.

IF Tuimoloau joins the Buckeyes, I think they’re getting a potentially great football player. Although I’ve believed in the recruiting experts who have had the Ohio State football team leading this entire time, seeing Alabama fall by the wayside is a relief. I think Tuimoloau’s decision is coming down to the Buckeyes and Oregon.

I don’t think Washington and USC are big factors but do believe the Ducks are a major player in this. However, I’m sticking with the expert picks and believing he’s going to commit to THE Ohio State University.