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.