The good news for Ohio State’s 2024 football roster kept rolling on Friday, when star defensive end JT Tuimoloau announced he is returning for his senior season. Tuimoloau joins draft-eligible Ohio State defenders such as defensive end Jack Sawyer, cornerback Denzel Burke and defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in spurning the pros for another season with the Buckeyes.
The former five-star prospect cited “a sense of unfinished business, and an unbreakable bond with my Buckeye brothers” in a social media post announcing his decision. Ohio State finished 11-2 for a third-straight season and suffered a third-straight loss to arch rival Michigan. Tuimoloau and most of the others who will comprise the program’s 2024 roster have yet to experience a victory over the Wolverines, a Big Ten title or a College Football Playoff victory.
Even in an era when name, image and likeness earnings potential can make staying in college an attractive proposition, Tuimoloau’s decision comes as somewhat of a surprise. He ranked as the No. 4 EDGE and No. 23 overall player in the 2023 CBS Sports NFL Draft Prospect Rankings.
He also landed in the first round of a recent mock draft CBS Sports draft analyst Josh Edwards. Despite the solid professional outlook, he will be returning to anchor a defense that continues to improve under the direction of coordinator Jim Knowles.
Bolstering Ohio State’s front
Tuimoloau earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023 after notching 38 tackles — including seven for loss — with five sacks. He also deflected two passes and recovered a fumble. The 6-foot-4 native of Edgewood, Washington enjoyed a strong October, notching sacks in three consecutive wins over Purdue, Penn State and Wisconsin.
One sign of his commitment to the Buckeyes…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/jt-tuimoloau-returning-to-ohio-state-in-2024-star-edge-joins-list-of-buckeyes-to-spurn-nfl-this-offseason/
Author : David Cobb
Publish date : 2024-01-12 20:24:15
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