The Colts on Friday selected Ohio State defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft (No. 45 overall), boosting their defensive front with a physical, productive player.
The 6-foot-4, 264 pound Tuimoloau (pronounced "TWO-ee-mo-lo-ow") spent all four years of his college career at Ohio State, where he totaled 144 tackles, 43.5 tackles for a loss, 23.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 12 passes defensed over 54 games (41 starts). Tuimoloau earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was named a second-team All-American in 2023.
Tuimoloau in 2024 helped Ohio State win a national championship with career highs in tackles (61), tackles for a loss (21.5), sacks (12.5) and forced fumbles (two). He earned an 87.3 Pro Football Focus run defense grade in 2024, seventh-best among FBS defensive ends.
Tuimoloau saved some of his best games for the Buckeyes' biggest moments: 19 of his 50 total pressures, 6.5 of his 12.5 sacks and 23 of his 61 tackles came in Ohio State's four College Football Playoff games last season.
Tuimoloau played in all 54 of Ohio State's games from the moment he arrived on campus in 2021 through the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff Championship win over Notre Dame; he started 35 consecutive games from 2022-2024.
The 21-year-old Tuimoloau (his birthday is May 10) is a native of the Seattle suburb of Edgewood and attended Eastside Catholic High School, where he starred at defensive end and tight end. Tuimoloau also lettered in basketball in high school.
With the Colts, Tuimoloau will add depth and upside to a defensive line room headlined by defensive tackles DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart and defensive ends Samson Ebukam, Laiatu Latu, Tyquan Lewis and Kwity Paye (Ebukam, Lewis and Paye are all set to become unrestricted free agents after the 2025 season). The Colts also signed defensive tackle Neville Gallimore in free agency this year and will return contributors like defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore and defensive end Isaiah Land as well
The 6-foot-4, 264 pound Tuimoloau spent all four years of his college career at Ohio State, where he totaled 144 tackles, 43.5 tackles for a loss, 23.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 12 passes defensed over 54 games (41 starts). Tuimoloau earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was named a second-team All-American in 2023.
Ohio State defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau (44) and Ohio State defensive end Zach Harrison (9) celebrate stopping Georgia during the second half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Ohio State defensive lineman JT Tuimoloau plays against Indiana during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State plays Nebraska at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, October, 26, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Ohio State Athletics)
Ohio State plays Marshall at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, September 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Ohio State Athletics)
Ohio State plays Tennessee in the College Football Playoff First Round Game on Saturday, December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Ohio State Athletics)
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau (44) rushes the edge during the 108th Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against the Utah on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 in Pasadena, Calif. The Buckeyes won, 48-45. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau in action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in West Lafayette, Ind. Ohio State won 41-7. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State defensive lineman JT Tuimoloau plays against Akron during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) celebrates during the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Ohio State defensive lineman JT Tuimoloau plays against Indiana during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State's JT Tuimoloau reacts after a tackle during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State defensive lineman JT Tuimoloau plays against Marshall during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau plays against Akron during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) rushes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State's JT Tuimoloau (44) looks to the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
