National Signing Day 2021: Predicting where top 10 unsigned recruits sign

1. J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, 5-star

Prediction: Ohio State Buckeyes

First addressing the elephant in the room, J.T. Tuimoloau isn’t going to make his decision on National Signing Day, which was announced on Thursday. The only remaining uncommitted 5-star prospect in the 247Composite rankings and the No. 3 overall player in the class will reportedly not make his decision until April at the earliest.

While that may be the case, Tuimoloau did narrow his options for where he’ll sign to a final five: Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, USC and Washington. However, it was noted that part of the reason the Washington state native will delay his decision is that he hopes to still take some visits. And given that he’s yet to visit Columbus or Tuscaloosa, that could be a clear indication of where he’s headed.

The Buckeyes appear to be the more obvious choice, however, for predicting where he’ll land. Not only does Ohio State have a little more wiggle room in their class than Alabama but there are natural ties for Tuimoloau with the Buckeyes. His former high school teammate, Gee Scott Jr., joined the program last year and another Washington native, Emeka Egbuka, committed in this class.

Whoever lands the 5-star prospect will be getting a phenomenal talent. With the potential to play as a defensive end, defensive tackle, or even a tight end, his athleticism and explosiveness are eye-popping. He’s a stalwart prospect that should he land in Columbus, would bolster the defense for years to come.

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