JT Tuimoloau
{{Short description|American football player (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = JT Tuimoloau
| image = 2025-0120 JT Tuimoloau.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Tuimoloau with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2025
| current_team = Indianapolis Colts
| number =
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|5|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 265
| high_school = Eastside Catholic {{nowrap|(Sammamish, Washington)}}
| college = Ohio State (2021–2024)
| draftyear = 2025
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 45
| pastteams =
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Unsigned draft pick
| highlights =
- CFP national champion (2024)
- 3× first-team All-Big Ten (2022–2024)
| statseason = 2025
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = TuimJT00
}}
Jaylahn "JT" Tuimoloau (born May 10, 2003) is an American professional football defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft. He was named the 2020 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year.
Early life
Tuimoloau was born on May 10, 2003, in Tacoma, Washington, and was raised in Edgewood, Washington. He attended Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish, Washington, where he was named the 2020 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year before committing to play college football at Ohio State University.{{cite web |title=J.T. Tuimoloau Named the 2020-21 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year |url=https://www.polynesianfootballhof.org/releases/jt-tuimoloau-named-the-2020-21-polynesian-high-school-football-player-of-the-year |website=Polynesian Football Hall of Fame |access-date=21 November 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/31761463/jt-tuimoloau-no-4-ranked-prospect-2021-class-commits-ohio-state-buckeyes|title=J.T. Tuimoloau, No. 4-ranked prospect in 2021 class, commits to Ohio State Buckeyes|first=Tom|last=VanHaaren|website=ESPN.com|date=July 4, 2022|access-date=October 29, 2022}} He was also offered a basketball scholarship for the Oregon Ducks.{{cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/recruiting/2021/03/jt-tuimoloau-nations-no-1-football-prospect-receives-oregon-ducks-basketball-offer-report.html|title=J.T. Tuimoloau, nation's No. 1 football prospect, receives Oregon Ducks basketball offer: Report|first=Andrew|last=Nemec|work=The Oregonian|date=March 10, 2021|access-date=October 29, 2022}}
College career
Tuimolau played in every game at Ohio State as a freshman in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.delgazette.com/sports/97919/sawyer-tuimoloau-primed-for-breakouts|title=Sawyer, Tuimoloau primed for breakouts|first=Dillon|last=Davis|work=The Delaware Gazette|date=August 16, 2022|access-date=October 29, 2022}} He finished the season with 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Joey |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Ohio State defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau feels quicker, comfortable |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/college/football/2022/08/17/ohio-state-defensive-end-j-t-tuimoloau-feels-quicker-comfortable/65406550007/ |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}} Tuimolau also considered playing basketball for the Buckeyes, but opted to focus on football.{{Cite web |last=Jardy |first=Adam |date=August 13, 2021 |title=Football? Basketball? J.T. Tuimoloau has rare shot to do both at OSU |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/2021/08/13/football-basketball-j-t-tuimoloau-buckeyes-osu/5429011001/ |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}}{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/ohiostate/football/ohio-state-football-basketball-chris-holtmann-says-jt-tuimoloau-a-ways-away-from-playing-both-sports-with-buckeyes|title=Ohio State Defensive End J.T. Tuimoloau "A Ways Away" From Playing Basketball|first=Andrew|last=Lind|website=SI.com|date=July 7, 2021|access-date=October 29, 2022}}
Against Penn State in 2022, he had two interceptions, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown, becoming the first FBS player to accomplish that since 2000.{{cite web|publisher=The Comeback | title=College football world reacts to historic J.T. Tuimoloau performance |url=https://thecomeback.com/college-football/ohio-state-jt-tuimoloau-performance-penn-state.html |first=Reice |last=Shipley |date=October 29, 2022 |access-date=October 29, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221029223909/https://thecomeback.com/college-football/ohio-state-jt-tuimoloau-performance-penn-state.html| archive-date=October 29, 2022}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 1/4
| weight = 265
| shuttle = 4.38
| vertical = 35.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 11
| bench = 24
| arm span = 33 3/4
| hand span = 10 1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=JT Tuimoloau Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jt-tuimoloau/32005455-4948-9240-60de-9865dc275c2a |access-date=February 28, 2025 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1052941&DraftYear=2025 |title=JT Tuimoloau College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=February 28, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2025/03/155479/buckeye-pro-day-central-results-videos-sights-and-sounds-from-ohio-state-s-2025-pro-day |title=Workout Results From Ohio State's Pro Day |website=ElevenWarriors.com |access-date=April 26, 2025}}
}}
Tuimoloau was selected with the 45th pick in the 2025 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.{{cite web |title=Colts go with defense in second round of NFL draft |website=WTHR |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/nfl/indianapolis-colts/indianpolis-colts-jt-tuimoloau-ohio-state-nfl-draft/531-a68a2b02-6da2-4d7c-9f8c-4855267b1de1 |date=April 25, 2025 |access-date=April 30, 2025}}
Personal life
Tuimoloau is the son of Ponce de Leon Faletoi and Alofa Tuimoloau.{{cite web |title=JT Tuimoloau |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/football/roster/jt-tuimoloau/11053 |access-date=21 January 2025}} He is a Christian.{{Cite web |last=Doering |first=Joshua |date=January 15, 2025 |title=Ohio State enters title game led by faith-fueled veterans who 'give God all the credit' |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/football/2025/01/15/ohio-state-title-game-faith-veterans-god/ |access-date=21 January 2025 |website=Sports Spectrum}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|JT_tuimoloau}}
- [https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/football/roster/jt-tuimoloau/5887 Ohio State Buckeyes profile]
{{Indianapolis Colts roster navbox}}
{{2024 Ohio State Buckeyes football navbox}}
{{Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year Award}}
{{Indianapolis Colts 2025 NFL draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuimoloau, JT}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football players
Category:Players of American football from Pierce County, Washington
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football