Ohio State 21 WA DE (SR) - J.T. Tuimoloau ('23 First Team All-BIG, '22 First Team All-BIG)

On today's episode of the Football Recruiting podcast, @BrandonHuffman joins @bangulo to discuss the latest on J.T. Tuimoloau.

They break down the five-star's recent spring practice visit, his official visit plans moving forward, when a final decision might be made, & more!

— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 15, 2021

 

Will unsigned 2021 five-star J.T. Tuimoloau will end up staying home and playing in the Pac-12? @adamgorney doesn't think so: https://t.co/XLNDWR83tr pic.twitter.com/YWuZpu2NBK

— Rivals (@Rivals) April 18, 2021

 

TUIMOLOAU EVALUATES OREGON VISIT
Five-star Eastside Catholic (Washington) defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau remains in a holding pattern when it comes to his Buckeyes recruitment. Until he makes the rounds of his official visits to Ohio State, Alabama and others in June, the No. 3 overall player in the 2021 class is not going to make a decision.

Tuimoloau, however, has taken visits over to Washington and Oregon recently, and he evaluated his visit to Eugene with 247Sports' Brandon Huffman:

With campuses still closed to recruiting, no visits with coaches, no tours of the campus, Tuimoloau watched from the stands but got to see the Ducks in action.

"The Oregon practice was very live," said Tuimoloau. "They had a high energy that was kept throughout the whole practice, from the coaches and trainers interacting with the team. It was very exciting to watch."

It was also Tuimoloau's first chance to see Oregon's new defensive coordinator, Tim DeRuyter, direct the Duck defense.

"It was also great to see the new DC, coach DeRuyter in action," said Tuimoloau.

 

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We are due to win one of these.............right?

 

Visiting Ohio State 17-20 June.............with the parents.

 

2021 Washington defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau has finally set his long-awaited official visit to Ohio State: https://t.co/ky5jFMe6I3

— Andrew Lind (@AndrewMLind) May 26, 2021

 

J.T. Tuimoloau Named 2020-21 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year https://t.co/REEdAVmaVi via @247sports @BrandonHuffman @JT_tuimoloau

— Polynesian Football (@PolynesianFBHOF) May 26, 2021

 

Our @BrandonHuffman on the absolute latest on #OhioState target @JT_tuimoloau (FREE)https://t.co/vzzCc8Ugw9 pic.twitter.com/5TGMU3bzlI

— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) June 8, 2021

 

Five-star prospects from the 2021, 2022 and 2023 classes will all be at Ohio State for the third week of June visits, headlined by J.T. Tuimoloau's official visit this weekend. https://t.co/87WsLKBC8B

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) June 14, 2021

TUIMOLOAU HEADLINES OFFICIAL VISIT WEEKEND NO. 3
Among all of the more than 50 official visits taking place at Ohio State this month, none of them come with higher stakes than this weekend’s visit by Tuimoloau, the No. 3 overall prospect in the class of 2021, as it will be Ohio State’s one and only opportunity to get the five-star Washington defensive end on campus before he makes his college decision, which is expected to come in the next two to three weeks.

Tuimoloau’s trip to Ohio State, which begins Friday and concludes Sunday, will be his third of five official visits. After visiting Washington during the opening weekend of visits, Tuimoloau will start this week at USC from Monday to Wednesday, then visit Oregon and Alabama next week.

It’s hard to know where exactly Ohio State stands in Tuimoloau’s recruitment, as he’s rarely spoken publicly during the recruiting process. Alabama, who landed the coveted final official visit, is viewed as Ohio State’s biggest threat to land him. How much Ohio State impresses Tuimoloau during this weekend’s official visit really could make or break whether he’s back in Columbus in July to start his college career.

 

Ohio State ready for first, last swing at J.T. Tuimoloau https://t.co/tnOPqzvbQb

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) June 17, 2021

 

J.T. Tuimoloau arrives for his Ohio State official visit today. He'd be the highest-rated defensive prospect to sign with the Buckeyes in the modern recruiting era. https://t.co/1z7UZZpF70

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) June 17, 2021

 

J.T. Tuimoloau has arrived in Columbus. pic.twitter.com/AYI8lV3MzF

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) June 17, 2021