Tommy Togiai is officially professionalizing.
Ohio’s outstanding defensive tackle declared for the 2021 draft of the NFL after a season of the All-Big Ten. He made the decision on Monday, announcing on Twitter that he would give up the season for veterans.
Forever a Buckeye pic.twitter.com/DedK3kZutw
– Tommy Togiai (@ Big_Tom72) January 19, 2021
“This has been one of the most difficult choices I have ever faced, but after arguing with my family, it is better for me to give up my senior season and declare myself for the 2021 NFL draft,” said Togiai in his announcement.
Entering his third season in Columbus, Togiai was the leading candidate for a year of prominence, and with the lack of depth along the Buckeyes’ internal defensive line, it was imperative that he be up to the occasion. The 1.8m-tall, 300-pounder – regarded in the Ohio state program as the strongest player on the team – certainly made his mark in his only full season as a starter.
After playing all 14 games as a sophomore for the Buckeyes, Togiai came out of the strong gate this fall. First came an outstanding performance against Nebraska and then a three-sack game against Penn State that earned him the top ten defensive player of the week and put him on the map as one of the main attackers of the conference.
He ended the season with 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for defeat and three sacks, earning him the second team All-Big Ten award from both coaches and the media.
Soon, Togiai will profit from his overall ranking of 53 and his billing as the third defensive piece of equipment in the 2018 recruiting class. Under Larry Johnson, the Idaho native Togiai – the state’s highest-ranked candidate in this cycle – has become one likely day two of NFL selection, who was chosen to go to the third round in some simulated drafts.
Togiai is the fifth underclassman to announce that he is leaving Ohio State to enter the 2021 draft of the NFL, joining defender Justin Fields, point guard Wyatt Davis, midfielder Josh Myers and defender Shaun Wade.
His departure leaves the Buckeyes with a big question mark in the defensive tackle. Haskell Garrett has yet to announce whether he will return for his extra year of eligibility or enter the 2021 draft of the NFL, but the state of Ohio will need a new holder to enter the nose game. Jerron Cage is the likely favorite after starting at Togiai’s place in the national championship game, but they may need young defensive tackles like red-shirted freshman Ty Hamilton and real freshmen Mike Hall and Tyleik Williams to be ready to contribute in the next season with limited depth of veterans in position.