The red carpet deserved to get rolled out on this occasion.
No recruit quite like J.T. Tuimoloau has come through Columbus – at least, not in the past two decades. Nick Bosa and Chase Young didn't match his level as a recruit. Nor did Jeff Okudah, Joey Bosa, Zach Harrison or Shaun Wade.
Tuimoloau, the five-star defensive end from Washington who concluded his extensive process on (DAY) by picking Ohio State, now holds the title as the highest-rated defensive recruit to join the Buckeyes in the modern recruiting era. He surpassed fellow 2021 signee Jack Sawyer for the honor that was previously Noah Spence's.
Recruiting ratings aren't everything. But, as anybody who has watched the Buckeyes should know, stars matter.
Tuimoloau's rating as a recruit (0.9990) is only lower than that of 2022 commit Quinn Ewers (1.0000), 2008 quarterback signee Terrelle Pryor (0.9997) and 2004 wide receiver signee Ted Ginn Jr. (0.9992).
Here's a look at how the defensive end ranked as the nation's No. 3 overall prospect compares to all of Ohio State's other 24 highest-rated defensive recruits in the modern recruiting era, which began at the turn of the century.
| NAME | POSITION | RATING | HOMETOWN | CLASS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.T. TUIMOLOAU | DL | 0.9990 | SAMMAMISH, WA | 2021 |
| JACK SAWYER | DL | 0.9982` | PICKERINGTON, OH | 2021 |
| NOAH SPENCE | WDE | 0.9975 | HARRISBURG, PA | 2012 |
| NICK BOSA | SDE | 0.9965 | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | 2016 |
| CHASE YOUNG | WDE | 0.9957 | HYATTSVILLE, MD | 2017 |
| JEFF OKUDAH | CB | 0.9955 | GRAND PRAIRIE, TX | 2017 |
| BARON BROWNING | OLB | 0.9940 | KENNEDALE, TX | 2017 |
| ZACH HARRISON | SDE | 0.9933 | LEWIS CENTER, OH | 2019 |
| MIKE D'ANDREA | ILB | 0.9926 | AVON LAKE, OH | 2002 |
| JAHEIM SINGLETARY | CB | 0.9918 | JACKSONVILLE, FL | 2022 |
| MARCO COOPER | OLB | 0.9918 | DETROIT, MI | 2000 |
| DONTE WHITNER | CB | 0.9912 | CLEVELAND, OH | 2003 |
| JAMARIO O'NEAL | CB | 0.9908 | CLEVELAND, OH | 2005 |
| SHAUN WADE | CB | 0.9904 | JACKSONVILLE, FL | 2017 |
| CURTIS GRANT | ILB | 0.9901 | RICHMOND, VA | 2011 |
| DORIAN BELL | OLB | 0.9899 | MONROEVILLE, PA | 2009 |
| RAEKWON MCMILLAN | ILB | 0.9896 | HINESVILLE, GA | 2014 |
| ADOLPHUS WASHINGTON | WDE | 0.9895 | CINCINNATI, OH | 2012 |
| C.J. HICKS | LB | 0.9886 | DAYTON, OH | 2022 |
| TARON VINCENT | DT | 0.9884 | BRADENTON, FL | 2018 |
| VONN BELL | S | 0.9876 | ROSSVILLE, GA | 2013 |
| TYREKE JOHNSON | S | 0.9876 | JACKSONVILLE, FL | 2018 |
| ETIENNE SABINO | OLB | 0.9870 | MIAMI, FL | 2008 |
| JUSTIN HILLIARD | OLB | 0.9851 | CINCINNATI, OH | 2015 |
| EUGENE CLIFFORD | S | 0.9849 | CINCINNATI, OH | 2007 |
Not too bad, eh?
Also notable: Tuimoloau is tied with Myles Garrett and Matt Barkley as the 24th-highest rated recruit since 2000. He's rated more favorably than former heralded recruits such as Dexter Lawrence, Julio Jones, Jabrill Peppers and Percy Harvin. Only nine defensive linemen – Jadeveon Clowney, Robert Nkemdiche, Rashan Gary, Ronald Powell, Da'Quan Bowers, Korey Foreman, Mario Edwards, Bryan Bresee and Nolan Smith – have a higher recruiting rating than him.
So, yeah. Ohio State's getting a good one.
