Over the past decade, Ohio State has produced superb defensive end prospects for the NFL, including Joey Bosa, Chase Young, and Nick Bosa. A few years ago, there was hype that their young tandem of Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau would keep that trend alive into the 2020s. However, Sawyer and Tuimoloau did not produce productive seasons in 2022 and 2023, leading to them returning to the Buckeyes for 2024. After a slow start to their final season, both have caught fire to close out the season. As a result, multiple team sources think that Tuimoloau could sneak into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
“He could go in the first now,” said an AFC area scout. “He shouldn’t, but could.”
“I think he goes [in the first],” said an AFC director of college scouting. “And Sawyer early two.”
Entering the playoff game against Texas, Tuimoloau has 10 sacks, 49 tackles, and three passes batted. Listed at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, Tuimoloau has the size to be a base end in the NFL. Tuimoloau has 5.5 sacks over the last five games including four in the playoff contests against Oregon and Tennessee. Some team sources said they still had Tuimoloau on day two, but his strong finish has him on the bubble of the first round. Every year, players with second-day grades get drafted late in the first round, and Tuimoloau is a candidate to be one of those prospects as you can see in my latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
