Happy Monday and an even happier Halloween, Eleven Warriors!
For those that need a reminder, J.T. Tuimoloau put up arguably the greatest singular defensive performance from any Buckeye ever this past weekend in Ohio State's 44-31 win over Penn State. Tuimoloau's final stat line — including two sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a TD), a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery — was so spectacular that, according to 11W's Matt Gutridge, it has only been replicated by the Buckeyes' entire defense eight times since 1976.
J.T. TUIMOLOAU PICK SIX
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 29, 2022
THIS GUY IS UNREAL @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/sMn0dh5MpJ
The pick-six clinched the game for Ohio State and punctuated Tuimoloau's all-timer of an afternoon, prompting This Week's Question™ to ask: what is your favorite defensive touchdown in the history of Ohio State football?
There exist so many possible answers to this question that I am likely going to end up missing a score I look back more favorably upon than my final choice. Some of my more recent honorable mentions would be:
- Malik Hooker's interception return for a touchdown against Michigan in 2016, the first score of the day for Ohio State over 25 minutes into the contest.
- Darron Lee's 33-yard fumble return for a touchdown against the Wolverines in 2014, after J.T. Barrett went down with a season-ending injury earlier in the fourth quarter.
- Ryan Shazier's pick-six against Penn State in 2012, the only touchdown he ever scored in his collegiate or professional football careers.
But ultimately, my favorite in my lifetime would have to be Malcolm Jenkins' pick-six against the Nittany Lions in 2006 with less than three minutes remaining that went for 61-yards and included five missed tackles.
What about you? What defensive touchdown from a Buckeye do you look back on most fondly?
