The biggest Fourth of July boom for Ohio State came hours before the evening's fireworks.
The Buckeyes have won the long recruiting battle for defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, ranked as the top player in the 2021 recruiting class by 247Sports.com.
Tuimoloau, from Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish, Washington, picked Ohio State over Oregon, Washington and Southern California.
He made the announcement Sunday afternoon on CBS Sports HQ.
Tuimoloau also had been considering Alabama, but he canceled his planned official visit to Tuscaloosa last weekend and eliminated the Crimson Tide from consideration.
Though the 6-4½, 277-pound Tuimoloau is ranked the No.