The Ohio State football program was able to get some really good games from J.T. Tuimoloau in his career. His games against Penn State and Iowa in 2023 will always be remembered as all-time games. He was also a key player on Ohio State's run to the national championship a year ago.
Now, JTT is headed to Indianapolis. The Colts desperately need an edge rusher with some athleticism, and that's exactly what they get from Tuimoloau. With Kwitty Paye not living up to his first-round billing after being drafted a few years ago, the Colts need a pass rusher they can rely on.
Tuimoloau does more than just rush the passer. He can bat the ball down at the line of scrimmage, as well as stop the run. He can be moved inside on some downs if needed. The Colts need help at all spots on the defensive line that aren't occupied by DeForest Buckner.
Ohio State Buckeyes player J.T. Tuimoloau gives the Colts versatility
Chris Ballard's philosophy as GM has always been to get premier players to play in the trenches. He has spent a lot of time trying to make sure that both the offensive and defensive lines are the best that they can be. That's why they were looking to bring Tuimoloau in.
Tuimoloau has a really good chance to start right away. The Colts like to rotate defensive ends, so he will get to play a lot as a rookie regardless. It will be a little like JTT experienced before Jim Knowles was hired as defensive coordinator, and the D-line stopped rotating as much.
This is a great pick for the Colts. As a Colts fan, I couldn't be happier that they drafted this player from the Buckeyes. JTT is going to have a really good NFL career.