Ohio State star called 'most underrated' player in entire NFL Draft

One player on the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes totaled 12.5 sacks, with 6.5 of those coming in the College Football Playoff.

That same player is projected as, at best, a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

NFL.com analyst Marc Ross, a former front office employee in the league, doesn't get it.

The player: J.T. Tuimoloau.

And in a recent mock draft from Ross, he has Tuimoloau going No. 29 overall to the Washington Commanders. That's the highest he's gone in any large mock draft out there.

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

It is a curious case.

Tuimoloau isn't even just a pass rusher. He finished with 61 tackles in 2024, including 22 tackles for loss. That means he had 9.5 tackles for loss just in the run game, not counting his sacks.

He's a freakish athlete at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds. He's got big-game pedigree.

Why wouldn't Tuimoloau go higher?

There are slightly better athletes, but there isn't much by way of defensive linemen in this draft who proved themselves more on the biggest stages in college football than Tuimoloau.

Someone might just be lining up to get a steal.

MORE NFL NEWS:

• Titans' presumed No. 1 pick Cam Ward ranked behind 17 other draft prospects
• Colin Kaepernick wants to return to the NFL
• Steelers linked to $180 million QB in lieu of Aaron Rodgers
• Browns predicted to stun NFL by adding top QB also wanted by the Steelers
• Chiefs-Dolphins wild trade pitch involves Tyreek Hill-Xavier Worthy swap
• Cowboys facing a 'nightmare' draft scenario