INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Watching Jaylahn “JT” Tuimoloau strike fear into the hearts of opposing quarterbacks and running backs is one thing, understanding his overall impact on the teams he plays for is another. Tuimoloau (6-4, 265) dominated on the high school gridiron which translated on the collegiate level. If a betting person, good money would be placed on Tuimoloau and his future NFL team stacking up victories.

Regarded as one of the top players in the 2021 recruiting class, Tuimoloau helped lead Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, WA) to back-to-back state championships in 2018 and 2019. The five-star got on the field as a true freshman eventually earning three first team All-Big Ten honors (2022-24). His explosive senior season that included 61 stops, 21.5 tackles for a loss, and 12.5 sacks helped propel the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship.

Playing in Columbus was a catalyst for Tuimoloau.

“It was great,” Tuimoloau shared. “Being able to go to Ohio State, a top-notch school filled with a lot of talent, it allowed me to elevate and enhance my skills and work ethic as well. Competing with a lot of guys, which I love to do, being able to do it around my brothers and to have some bragging rights in the locker room. Just competing against them really elevated me and my skillset.”

The coaching staff at Ohio State is legendary in its own right with Ryan Day as head coach and Chip Kelly running the offense. The defensive minds scheming throughout the 2024 season are acclaimed as well with Jim Knowles serving as coordinator and Larry Johnson coaching the defensive linemen.

“It was great,” Tuimoloau stated. “Working with coach J (Johnson) and coach Knowles, they are guys who are very smart. Coach J is one of the goats and greats, especially as a d-line coach. To be under his wing and to be able to call him my coach is an honor. I always say, “that is my second grandfather over there”.

“Coach Knowles, he was able to take me, show my athleticism – dropping, rushing the passer, and stopping the run. Doing a lot of different stuff, especially in the run game, it really showcased how athletic I am.”

The path to hoisting a National Championship trophy was not an easy one for the Buckeyes. Many national talking heads tried to dismiss Ohio State after regular season losses to Oregon and Michigan, but the team rallied from within marching through the playoffs knocking off Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame.

“That is life,” Tuimoloau said. “In life you go through a lot of ups and downs. It is just a matter of how you handle those tough situations or how you handle what you are not prepared for. The culture we have at Ohio State, it is a blessing. We are a tight-knit group; we are a family. We play for our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. We understand that there is something bigger than us.

“When you go through things like that, it really goes back to who are you going to lean on. We leaned on our faith and on our Lord and continued to trust in him.”

Speaking from the 2025 NFL Combine, Tuimoloau was locked in on the mission at hand.

“It is a blessing,” Tuimoloau shared. “I have to stay focused. You can’t take anything for granted. You have to accept everything for what it is. With the draft coming up, I am locked in but at the same time this is what we dream about.

“If we don’t live in it, if we don’t make sure the moments count, then I feel that you are wasting time at that point. Being able to be here with my brothers, even the guys that I just met, developing a close knit relationship with them, it is everything you can ask for.”

Tuimoloau shared his thoughts on the upcoming draft.

“It is everything that I have worked for; it is great to see it unfold,” Tuimoloau explained. “But at the same time, you have to make a quick transition and get right back to work. You can live in the moment for a little bit, take it all in, be thankful, give all the credit to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ but at the same time you have to start the next chapter and get ready.”

A sports card collector from an early age, the All-American is excited to see his rookie card.

“I collected cards as a kid, “Tuimoloau stated. “It will be cool. Hopefully I can get some, even if I have to go get my own. That is something I would go searching for. It will be cool to have, pass down, or give to my little siblings or cousins so they can have it as a collectible.”

Tuimoloau shined at the NFL Combine finishing in the top three in key categories production score (82), athleticism (85), and total score (81).

Photo credit: Beckett/Ryan Wright