The first time J.T. Tuimoloau met Zaire Franklin, Tuimoloau was in high school. The Edgewood, Wash. native was one of a few high schoolers who had the opportunity to train alongside NFL players at Ford Sports Performance in Seattle, and Franklin just so happened to be out there working on his craft a few years into his career with the Colts.

As a young defensive end, Tuimoloau took note of the intentionality and focus the pros trained with, and saw firsthand the work they put in and the pride they took in their game. Franklin made sure to pass that message along to Tuimoloau; they both wore the number 44, and Franklin told him to be sure to represent the number well.

Tuimoloau took Franklin's words to heart, wearing 44 throughout his accomplished collegiate career which saw the defensive end become the highest-ranked recruit to ever sign to Ohio State, earn First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and help lead the Buckeyes to win the national championship in 2024.

Now, as the Colts' No. 45 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tuimoloau will have the opportunity to reunite with Franklin. And while they'll no longer be representing the same number, they'll be representing something even better: the same team.

"It's crazy now that I'm entering into this new door that I'm able to play alongside him," Tuimoloau said Friday. "Full circle."

Thanks to that prior relationship with Franklin, Tuimoloau already has an idea of the kind of defense he's joining. The defensive end only met with the Colts at the NFL Combine, he said, but the team made a lasting impact. Tuimoloau clearly made an impact on the Colts as well, and when they asked him about the kind of person he was, he made it clear how much he values family.

"I told them me just being a Polynesian person, I'm just a big family guy," he said. "One who's always willing to help the others out or do whatever it takes to be there for my brothers."

Tuimoloau referenced hosting Super Bowl and UFC watch parties, catering food and making sure his teammates all have a safe place to bond off the football field. He cares about his people, and they care about him – to the point where he had to put his phone on silent before speaking to the media Friday night.

And as for who Tuimoloau is as a player? That's an easy answer too.

"One, passionate, two, powerful, and three, a mixture – at my size, I'm able to have speed and power," the 6-foot-4, 264 pound 21-year-old said. "I think you're just getting an all-around player who's always hungry and who never wants to settle."

"I think for me, I want to grow in any area," he added. "The IQ set of it, I know that you're going against guys that are grown men and they're craftsmen. And for me, it's just understanding that part of it. And then the run game, I just want to play with my hands, and then too, just continue to critique and clean up my toolbox and be able to always find what other players do that helps that win and apply that to me. So, being a sponge in all three areas of the game."

As a Buckeye, Tuimoloau became known for his power and playmaking abilities. As a part of the Colts' defense, he'll have the chance to do the same.

"Man, I'm just blessed," Tuimoloau said. "I always said I'd be doing my younger self a discredit if I wasn't grateful for this moment. But God put me in the right place at the right time for the right reasons. I'm just glad to be here."