Ohio State added five-star defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau to the roster on Friday, nearly two weeks after he announced his very late commitment to the Buckeyes.
Tuimoloau is ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2021 by 247Sports, No. 4 overall by ESPN and No. 6 overall by Rivals. He is the highest-rated defensive prospect to sign with Ohio State in the modern recruiting era (2000-present), according to the school.
From Sammamish, Wash., Tuimoloau picked the Buckeyes over Oregon, Washington and Southern Cal. He made official visits to each of those schools in June and canceled a planned trip to Alabama.
Tuimoloau was the fifth five-star prospect in the class to choose Ohio State, following defensive lineman Jack Sawyer, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson and quarterback Kyle McCord. The Buckeyes’ 2021 class ranks No. 2 overall, behind only Alabama, by 247Sports.
The 6-foot-4, 277-pound Tuimoloau is expected to play defensive end, and the Buckeyes could have the nation’s best defensive line. Tuimoloau and Sawyer are expected to make immediate impacts as they join returners Tyreke Smith and Zach Harrison.
Ohio State opens the 2021 season on Sept. 2 with a Big Ten showdown at Minnesota.
