Ohio State EDGE JT Tuimoloau announces decision to return to Buckeyes for 2024 season

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•01/12/24

Ohio State EDGE JT Tuimoloau has made his decision on the 2024 NFL Draft, and the talented pass-rusher will be remaining in school for the 2024 season. Tuimoloau announced on his Instagram page.

JT Tuimoloau has been a monster off the edge for the Buckeyes for the past three seasons.

He had a breakout sophomore campaign in 2022, when he tallied 26 tackles, 10.0 tackles for a loss, 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and six passes defended.

He didn’t quite match those numbers as a junior in 2023, but he was still plenty productive.

Across three seasons with the Buckeyes, Tuimoloau racked up 70 tackles, 17.0 tackles for a loss, 6.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, two interceptions and nine passes defended.

That kind of production matched his high school ranking, which was quite lofty.

Coming out of high school, JT Tuimoloau was ranked as a five-star prospect and the No. 5 overall player in the nation in the 2021 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

He also checked in as the No. 2 defensive lineman in his class and the No. 1 overall player from the state of Washington, hailing from Sammamish (WA) Eastside Catholic.

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.