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Ohio State DE J.T. Tuimoloau selected by Indianapolis Colts with 45th overall pick

Spencer-Holbrookby: Spencer Holbrook04/26/25SpencerHolbrook
Ohio State EDGE JT Tuimoloau
© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

COLUMBUS — From five-star prospect to four-year Ohio State contributor and now NFL Draft pick: J.T. Tuimoloau has found his NFL home.

The former Buckeyes star defensive end and national champion was selected by the Indianapolis Colts at No. 45 overall in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday night.

Tuimoloau finished his career at Ohio State with 144 combined tackles, 45 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks — including 12.5 sacks for the Buckeyes last season in helping lead the program to its first national championship in a decade.

After arriving late in the summer of 2021, Tuimoloau made up for lost time and contributed to the Ohio State defense immediately as a freshman and played all four seasons he was on campus for the Buckeyes. He and fellow five-star defensive end from the 2021 recruiting class Jack Sawyer were cornerstones of the Ohio State defensive renaissance during the last few years.

Tuimoloau now has a new challenge ahead of him: he’s heading to Indianapolis to help bolster the Colts defense and become a defensive cornerstone at the next level like he was at Ohio State.

Four Buckeyes selected in first round of 2025 NFL Draft

Ohio State had four players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (19th overall), offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (24th overall), defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (28th overall) and left tackle Josh Simmons (32nd overall) were taken — two of them heading to the NFC North as Jackson will be in Minnesota while Williams is heading to Detroit. Egbuka was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Simmons went to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ohio State players still available after first round

QB Will Howard
TE Gee Scott Jr.
OT Josh Fryar
OL Seth McLaughlin
DE Jack Sawyer
DT Ty Hamilton
LB Cody Simon
SAF Lathan Ransom
CB Denzel Burke
DB Jordan Hancock

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