INDIANAPOLIS – JT Tuimoloau has prepared for whatever comes next.
The roots were planted when he was 16, 17 years old and a promising defensive end/tight end at Washington’s Eastside Catholic High School.
Tuimoloau worked out with former NFL talent at Tracy Ford’s Sports Performance academy in Seattle. The group included Zaire Franklin.
Friday night, Tuimoloau and Franklin became teammates when the Indianapolis Colts selected the Ohio State edge rusher with their second-round pick in the NFL Draft (No. 45 overall).
“It’s crazy I was able to train with Zaire Franklin,’’ Tuimoloau said on a Zoom call. “We always made it a point because I wore 44 and he did.
“He’s always saying, ‘Make sure you rep the number well.’ It’s crazy now that I’m entering this new door that I’m able to play alongside him.
“It’s crazy. Full circle.’’
Tuimoloau was a sponge as he spent time with Bobby Wagner, Cliff Avril, Franklin and others.
“Just seeing how they train,’’ he said. “They’re very intentional, focused on the small details. They always did the extra work.
“It was a mixture of knowing when to enjoy yourself and joke around with the boys, but when it got down to business and you needed to handle something, man, they were locked in.’’
That preparation contributed to Tuimoloau being a top-ranked recruit by Ohio State and blossoming into a second-round pick in the NFL Draft.
The 6’4″, 265-pounder appeared in 55 games, 42 as a starter. He was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection on the strength of 23.5 career sacks, 43.5 tackles for loss, 12 passes defensed and two interceptions.
In Ohio State’s four-game playoff run that culminated with a national championship, Tuimoloau piled up 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
He should immediately step in and help fill the void created by Dayo Odeyingbo’s free-agent departure to Chicago.
His journey from prep star to collegiate standout to Colts’ second-day pick “has prepared me to handle the ups and downs,’’ Tuimoloau said. “With the season that we went through and just what I’ve been through, it just taught me to navigate through the moments you are not prepared for or that you didn’t expect.’’
Tuimoloau crawled out of bed early Friday and killed time prior to the draft by getting in a round of golf.
“Man, it’s a stressful day,’’ he admitted. “Emotions are everywhere. You’re just sitting there, waiting.
“Man, I’m just blessed to be a Colt.’’
The past several months, he Tuimoloau added, has “been a ride for sure.
“Going from natty (national championship) straight to training for the Combine to (preparing) for Pro Day to now you’re still training and waiting.
“I always said I’d be doing my younger self a discredit if I wasn’t preparing for this moment. For sure a long ride, man. God put me in the right place at the right time for the right reasons.’’