Ohio State Football: Performance could be jumping-off point for one player

The Ohio State football team is in team-improvement mode. Everyone on the roster needs to get better heading into next season. Some are trying to secure more playing time, while others are trying to use some good performances from last year as a jumping-off point.

One of those players is J.T. Tuimoloau. Tuimoloau had perhaps the best individual performance of any Ohio State football player in the Penn State game last year. He had 6 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions (including one he returned for a touchdown), a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

It was truly an insane individual performance. He couldn’t be stopped no matter who was blocking him on the edge. Penn State simply had no answer for him. He was the best player on the field that night on either side of the ball for either team.

Tuimoloau can use that performance as a jumping-off point for next season. As a junior, he now will be looked upon as a leader on the team. It will more than likely be his last season with the Buckeyes as well before he decides to declare for the NFL Draft.

With the second year in Jim Knowles’ system, Tuimoloau should only get better than he was a year ago. He’s the one with the most natural talent on the defensive line. If he is an elite player, he makes everyone on the defense better with the pressure he can put on the quarterback.

Having an elite pass-rusher could help a beleaguered secondary that struggled in the biggest games last year. Tuimoloau is the one that has the best chance to be that elite pass-rusher next year. It’s up to Knowles to put him in that position and get him to the next level.

I can’t wait to see how much better he is next year.