Jim Knowles Has High Expectations For Ohio State Buckeyes Defensive End JT Tuimoloau vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimoloau starred against Penn State last season. Can he do it again?

Last season, the Ohio State Buckeyes took down the Penn State Nittany Lions in Happy Valley 44-31 sending them to 8-0 on the season. 

In that game, the usual suspects showed up offensively for the Buckeyes, with C.J. Stroud throwing for 354 yards and a touchdown, Marvin Harrison Jr. finishing with 10 catches for 185 yards, and TreVeyon Henderson rushing for two scores. 

Defensively, however, it was the JT Tuimoloau show, with the then-sophomore absolutely dominating the action all evening. 

On that late October night, Tuimoloau finished with Six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions - one of which he took back for a touchdown.

He also tipped a pass that resulted in an interception of quarterback Sean Clifford by linebacker Zach Harrison.

And when asked about Tuimoloau's performance, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles did not shy away from his expectations for the pass rusher against the Nittany Lions this season.

"I expect him to do that again," Knowles said.

Once again in 2023, Tuimoloau has been a star for the Buckeyes, leading the team with three sacks, to go along with 19 tackles. 

To make things even better, Tuimoloau is hitting his stride at just the right time.

In fact, Tuimoloau has accumulated all three of those sacks, with 1.5 coming against Maryland and 1.5 coming against Purdue in Ohio State's 41-7 win last weekend. 

And Knowles has been very impressed by what he has seen so far from his star defensive lineman. 

"(Tuimoloau) has increased his football intelligence," Knowles said. "JT is an awesome player in his own right, doing his thing. I see a guy who continues to understand more about the defense and his role in the defense, where the ball will come out based on the call – all those things. He has a great understanding."

Can Tuimoloau repeat his dominant performance against Penn State from last season? Odds are, probably not, as he was the only Ohio State player to ever put up such a stat line, according to Eleven Warriors. 

That said, Knowles will be relying on Tuimoloau to make his present felt against an elite quarterback in Drew Allar, who has 12 touchdowns, has only been sacked four times, and has yet to throw an interception this season.