'Standing Firm!' Star Edge Rusher J.T. Tuimoloau Announces Return to Ohio State

The Ohio State Buckeyes got a major gift on Friday, with star edge rusher J.T. Tuimoloau announcing his return for the 2024 season.

Matt Galatzan | Jan 12, 2024

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Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes may have lost Marvin Harrison Jr., but they have also been fortunate enough to have an unprecedented amount of players returning for next season, who very well could have opted for the NFL.

On Friday, star defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau became the latest - and perhaps biggest - name to join the list of returning starters, announcing his intentions to come back to Columbus for the 2024 season.

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex, your workmanship is marvelous- how well I know it.“

"With heartfelt gratitude to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a sense of unfinished business, and an unbreakable bond with my Buckeye brothers, I am standing firm in my decision to return #GOBUCKS🌰," Tuimolau said in his announcement post.

Tuimoloau now joins an elite group of players that plans on returning to Columbus, including receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive end Jack Sawyer, corners Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock, safety Lathan Ransom, defensive lineman Tyliek Williams, and defensive tackle Ty Hamilton.

Tuimoloau, however, might be the best of the bunch.

Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka Announces Return For Senior Season

Last season with the Buckeyes, Tuimoloau spearheaded what was arguably the country's top defense, finishing the year with five sacks, 38 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He currently sits with 22 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his three-year career.

Tuimoloau also might be the most surprising returner of the bunch as well, being projected as a fringe-first round NFL Draft pick, and the Buckeyes' second-highest-rated prospect behind Harrison Jr.

With Tuimoloau now in tow for 2024, all eyes in Columbus will turn to running back TreVeyon Henderson, who has yet to make a decision.

Published Jan 12, 2024

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com, AllAggies.com, and the Managing Editor of BuckeyesNow.com and TheGroveReport.com He is also the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com and TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com