Ohio State’s Tommy Togiai reflects on declaring for 2021 NFL Draft, looks forward to
The Cleveland Browns selected Tommy Togiai with the 2021 NFL Draft’s No. 132 overall pick in the fourth round Saturday, keeping the former Ohio State defensive tackle a resident of the Buckeye State. Togiai, who declared Jan. 18, reflected on his decision to leave the Buckeyes after a three-year tenure in Columbus from 2018-20.
“Making this decision to come out was really just my health,” Togiai said Saturday. “Like, I was unhealthy coming out of this season and, I mean, didn’t know what next season would look like, risking injury and then with the pandemic still around and everything. So just kind of that risk factor is kind of the reason why I came out early.
“… I mean, I always had a feeling I was going to go later in the rounds. But, I mean, I didn’t know exactly where. But, I mean, that’s the kind of risk I took going into this year. I was betting on myself and, I mean, it worked out for the best. But whatever decision I decided on, it was the best decision for me and I’m sticking with that. And I know this is the best decision for me, and I’m excited to get to work.”
“Obviously, anyone would want to go earlier,” Togiai added later. “But, I mean, I’m happy just to be drafted. And yeah, this is kind of where I falling — in the second to fourth, in the middle rounds, somewhere in there. So, I mean, just be blessed that I got drafted and getting ready to go to work.”
A four-star recruit, Togiai committed Dec. 12, 2017 has — eight days before he signed his letter of intent — to OSU from Pocatello (Idaho) Highland. Togiai was the industry-generated 247Sports Composite’s No. 55 overall prospect, No. 3 defensive tackle and No. 1 player in Idaho for the 2018 recruiting class.
“When I first made that decision to go to Ohio State … there’s two other NFL teams in Ohio, so it’s a possibility of that,” Togiai said with a smile. “But I never knew that this would, obviously, happen. But I’m excited to be able to — I mean, I love Ohio with my years in Columbus and I’m excited to just get back to Ohio, get back to work.”
The 6-foot-1 1/2, 296-pounder enrolled early Jan. 8, 2018, and became an immediate-impact player on Ohio State’s deep defensive line. In 33 games, Togiai totaled 49 tackles (8 1/2 for loss), three sacks and one forced fumble.
“I think the thing I do best is being physical at the point of attack, using my hands and being able to lock out of linemen, especially in the run game,” Togiai said. “I think that’s what my best attributes are. And then stuff I’ve been improving on and have been working on this past offseason is my pass rush, just using my hands better, using some more moves and incorporating more moves that I can use.”
Heading to Cleveland, Togiai joins a Browns defensive line with the likes of multi-time Pro Bowl ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. Regardless of his role, Togiai hopes to pitch in wherever he can.
“I mean, it’s exciting,” Togiai said. “Especially what those guys have done and their years in the NFL so far, just to be able to go in and learn from them and pick up tips from them and be able to play with them, maybe side by side, I mean, it’s just really exciting and I’m blessed with this opportunity to be able to learn from them and pick up anything that I can and try to soak in all the information I can from them.”
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