Ohio State Defensive End J.T. Tuimoloau Loses Black Stripe
Ohio State freshman defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau had his black stripe removed following the Buckeyes' intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, which marked just the 10th practice of his college career.
“First, I want to thank God for blessing us with this game that we love,” Tuimoloau said. “I’d like to thank the offensive line for pushing me, the defensive line for holding me accountable every day and Coach (Larry Johnson) for trusting me.”
The 6-foot-4 and 275-pound Tuimoloau committed to Ohio State on July 4 over finalists Oregon, USC and Washington. He was considered the second-best defensive lineman and No. 4 prospect overall in the class of 2021, making him the highest-rated defensive player to ever sign with the Buckeyes.
Despite his late arrival, which was prompted by his desire to take official visits before making his college decision, Tuimoloau has impressed the coaching staff with his athleticism and attention to detail in a few short weeks.
“The feedback I’m getting from Johnson and the other coaches in the meeting room, but then also what I see on the field, is a tremendous attention to detail,” head coach Ryan Day said on Aug. 9. “He’s very conscientious. Takes a lot of notes. Can take a meeting to the field in short order. Because of that, he’s made up a lot of ground in a very short amount of time.
“He’s flashed, he’s learning, he still has moments where he’s still not sure exactly where to go or what to do, but you can see certainly the flashes and brilliance of a 275-pound defensive end who can run. But then when he does kind of know exactly what he’s doing, he’s made a lot of plays and we’re having a hard time blocking him.”
Tuimoloau becomes the ninth member of Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class to lose his black stripe, following the lead of wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Emeka Egbuka, defensive end Jack Sawyer, running back TreVeyon Henderson, linebacker Reid Carrico, cornerback Denzel Burke, quarterback Kyle McCord and punter Jesse Mirco.
They all enrolled in classes in January and participated in spring practice, though.
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