Ohio State football DE J.T. Tuimoloau: 3 things you need to know
J.T. Tuimoloau has started as a defensive end at Ohio State since 2022.
Tuimoloau had enrolled at the school a year earlier before moving to the front of the rotation as a sophomore and becoming one of the Buckeyes’ most productive linemen.
Here is what to know about Tuimoloau as the Buckeyes open their season against Akron on Aug. 31.
J.T. Tuimoloau broke out at Penn State
It was in the Buckeyes’ 44-31 win in Happy Valley in 2022 when he had a career performance.
Tuimoloau finished with two interceptions, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, including returning one of his picks for a late touchdown.
Tuimoloau leapt in the air at the line of scrimmage to intercept the pass from quarterback Sean Clifford, returning it 14 yards into the end zone for the score.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Tuimoloau was among only three players in the Football Bowl Subdivision in the last 15 years to produce such a stat line.
J.T. Tuimoloau hasn’t played only football
Tuimoloau grew up in a basketball family.
His mother, Alofa, and aunt, Chenne, played at Moorpark Community College in Southern California. Chenne continued on at San Jose State.
Tuimoloau played in high school at Eastside Catholic in Sammamish, Washington, averaging 11.1 points per game while solidifying the frontcourt.
He considered walking on to the Buckeyes’ basketball team, but opted to focus on football.
J.T. Tuimoloau’s recruitment was impacted by COVID-19
Tuimoloau did not commit to Ohio State until July 2021, only weeks before his enrollment.
The decision was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which kept schools from recruiting prospects in person.
As the NCAA had dead period in place, Tuimoloau had not taken an official visit to OSU and others until June 2021.
“We wanted to meet the people who are actually going to take care of him,” his father, Ponce de Leon Faletoi, told The Dispatch in 2022. “We're not around, so we have to meet that person, shake his hand and all that. People say it’s old school, but we just think it's the right way to do things.”
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football: Get to know J.T. Tuimoloau
