Even mashing golf balls into the morning sun wasn’t enough to expel JT Tuimoloau’s nervous energy on April 25.
The first round of the 2025 NFL draft had come and gone the day prior, and while the former Ohio State defensive end had a shot to become a first-round pick, he knew he was waiting to learn his professional home on day two. After a 7 a.m. wake-up call to make his tee time and a full round of golf, the anxiety built.
“We played 18 holes, and it wasn't long enough because I still had to wait for the draft,” Tuimoloau said. “It was just, emotions are everywhere. You're just sitting there waiting, family here.”
Later that evening, the Indianapolis Colts had their own anxious wait in the second round of the draft. Holding the 13th pick of the round, they had a bright red circle around Tuimoloau on their board, who they had circled to address their edge rushing needs after selecting Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the first round.
At 8:09 p.m., the wait finally ended for both sides as the Colts selected Tuimoloau No. 45 overall.
“I felt really fortunate to get him,” Colts general manager Chris Ballard said on April 25. “And I think everybody would tell you that in our room. There was a three-game stretch in the playoffs – I think he ended up having like six-and-a-half sacks between Tennessee, Texas and Notre Dame – where he was outstanding. He's got some unique qualities. He's a big guy. He's a really good athlete. He can bend. He knows how to rush. He's got good length. We’re excited to get him.”
Got JT on the line. pic.twitter.com/vpgdZayIBW
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 26, 2025
Tuimoloau finished his College Football Playoff run with 23 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks with two pass breakups and a forced fumble during Ohio State’s four-game run to a national championship. He was the most productive defensive lineman on the team throughout the season, racking up 61 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.
A three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection from 2022 through 2024, his three years as a starter, Tuimoloau collected the sixth-most sacks in Ohio State history during his four-year Buckeye career with 23.5. Then began the pre-draft process.
“It’s been a ride for sure,” Tuimoloau told Colts media after he was drafted. “Going from natty straight to training for the combine to going out training for pro day to now, you're still training and waiting (to be drafted). It's a long ride, but man, I'm just blessed I was able to go through this. And I always said I'd be doing my younger self a discredit if I wasn't grateful for this moment.”
There were many tribulations during Tuimoloau’s four years in Columbus. He posted perhaps the greatest individual defensive performance ever from a Buckeye against Penn State in 2022, but his production didn’t always rise to the level of his talent, as he collected just 3.5 total sacks that year and five in 2023. He had to endure four consecutive Michigan losses and multiple postseason heartbreaks to finally emerge as one of the nation’s premier edge defenders during the CFP.
“I feel like it has prepared me to handle the ups and downs,” Tuimoloau said of his Ohio State career. “With the season we went through and just what I've been through, it taught me how to navigate through the moments that you're unprepared for, that you wouldn’t expect. I'm just taking it day by day and willing to just be where my feet's at, and just really take in where I'm walking. But at the same time, just be ready as I can be.”
A five-star prospect out of high school in Sammamish, Washington, Tuimoloau flexed even greater aptitude against the run than the pass in 2024. He had a run defense grade of 87.3 per Pro Football Focus, and he led the Buckeyes in non-sack TFLs with nine in addition to his sack lead.
With a pass-rush grade of 77.8, Tuimoloau accumulated 51 total pressures per PFF, second-most for Ohio State behind Jack Sawyer’s 64. He also got to flex some versatility in the Buckeyes’ defensive scheme.
“At my size, I'm able to have speed and power,” Tuimoloau said. “Shout out to Coach (Jim) Knowles and blessing (having) Coach Knowles to be our DC, he allowed me to show that I can drop in the passing game. So I think you're just getting an all-around player who's always hungry and never wants to settle and never wants to get complacent.”
From one Shoe to another. pic.twitter.com/45YUsSxYck
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 26, 2025
Ryan Day went to bat for Tuimoloau throughout the process, but especially when Indianapolis called him on draft day two.
“Ryan goes, ‘I'm trying to figure out why he didn't go in the first round,’” Ballard said. “We had a good grade on him. But he was pretty effusive with his praise.”
The technical components of Tuimoloau’s game also impressed the Colts, though there will be work, as with every prospect, to acclimate to the NFL level. Indianapolis lost one of its starting defensive ends from last season, Dayo Odeyingbo, to free agency this offseason, so Tuimoloau will compete with second-year EDGE Laiatu Latu to start opposite Kwity Paye.
“Yes,” Ballard said when asked if Tuimoloau comes in with a good toolbox of rush moves. “Kind of like Latu did a year ago. He's got a little more power than Latu had. But when they come into our league, there's still a developmental curve. There is. But he's got a good foundation for sure to move forward with.”
Now that he’s in Indianapolis, Tuimoloau is working to establish bonds with his teammates and coaches.
“Me being a Polynesian person, I'm just a big family guy,” Tuimoloau said. “One who's willing to always help the others out or to do whatever it takes to be there for my brother, whether it's just bringing them all over to the house, buying fight nights or whatever it may be. Super Bowl nights, just catering all the food so that we are at a safe place. So for me, that's just the type of person I am. Just always willing to have that time where we're all together, create a bond that's deeper than just on the field.”
The wait is over for Tuimoloau to start his NFL journey. Now it’s time to see what he can achieve going from playing in the Horseshoe to wearing one.
